Expanding the horizons of integrated flood risk management: a critical analysis from an Irish perspective

ABSTRACT

Millions of people around the world are exposed to some degree of flood hazard, with the level of exposure increasing with climate change. Arising from the scale of recent flood experiences across Europe, the European Union adopted the Floods Directive in 2007 to bring about greater assessment and management of flood risk across the EU and encapsulating the paradigm shift that involves a more holistic approach to flood management by requiring consideration of both structural and non-structural measures. This paper explores the evolution of flood management in Ireland, and highlights gaps concerning understanding of human–environment behavioural interactions. The paper promotes the importance of exploring how people’s perception of the environment and the design of urban landscapes may influence behaviour; important considerations in the advancement of a more integrated flood risk management system.

KEYWORDS:

• Flood risk management
• socio-hydrology
• human-environment interaction
• environmental behaviour

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank symposium participants at the Ostrom Workshop at Indiana University Bloomington where the author presented an earlier version of this paper whilst a Visiting Scholar to the Workshop. Thanks also to two anonymous referees and the editor for helpful comments provided.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1 For example, access to public transport, greater education opportunity, economies of scale in service provision.

2 The Directive refers to river floods, flash floods, urban floods and floods from the sea in coastal areas.

3 Drainage and Navigation (Ireland) Acts 1842–1857; Drainage and Improvement of Lands (Ireland) Acts 1863–1892.

4 Arterial Drainage Act 1945.

5 Arterial Drainage Amendment Act 1995.

6 Planning and Development Act 2000.

7 Present day City and County Councils.

8 Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010.

9 S.I. No. 122 of 2010 (European Communities Assessment and Management of Flood Risk Regulations 2010).

10 A High Court judgement (UCC v. ESB [2015]) concerning the 2009 event found the dam operator (ESB) to be 60% liable for widespread flood damage at University College Cork arising from inter alia operational and warning failures. UCC was found to be 40% liable for failing to take reasonable steps such as raising floor levels in buildings or developing a flood response plan. ESB is appealing the judgement.

11 Located within the combined flood extent of the estimated 0.5% AEP tidal and 1% AEP fluvial flood event.

12 The measures put forward are underpinned by hydrological modelling, socio-economic (vulnerability) analysis and cost–benefit (damage avoided) considerations.