Studies have shown an increase in mortality and morbidity during heatwaves, especially among the elderly. We assessed the knowledge of the general population of Brussels and Amsterdam on groups at risk and protective measures for heat-related health effects.
Articles and reports
The following articles and reports are scientific based documents that mention the ENHANCE project.
How resilient is the general population to heatwaves? A knowledge survey from the ENHANCE project in Brussels and Amsterdam
Stakeholders’ Perception on National Heatwave Plans and Their Local Implementation in Belgium and The Netherlands
National heatwave plans are aimed at reducing the avoidable human health consequences due to heatwaves, by providing warnings as well as improving communication between relevant stakeholders. The objective of this study was to assess the perceptions of key stakeholders within plans in Belgium and The Netherlands on their responsibilities, the partnerships, and the effectiveness of the local implementation in Brussels and Amsterdam.
Identifying the policy space for climate loss and damage - Climate risk analysis must play a fundamental role
Currently planned greenhouse gas mitigation efforts would not prevent climate warming from going beyond 2°C as aspired to in the 2015 Paris
Agreement, adding to climate-related impacts already under way. Although climate adaptation has been strengthened in the Paris Agreement, climate-related risks may exceed adaptation possibilities of communities and countries. To this effect, an important decision in the Paris Agreement was the endorsement of the Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM) for Loss and Damage (L&D).
Estimating flood damage to railway infrastructure – the case study of the March River flood in 2006 at the Austrian Northern Railway
Models for estimating flood losses to infrastructure are rare and their reliability is seldom investigated although infrastructure losses might contribute considerably to the overall flood losses. In this paper, an empirical modelling approach for estimating direct structural flood damage to railway infrastructure and associated financial losses is presented.
Flood insurance in England- An assessment of the current and newly proposed insurance scheme in the context of rising flood risk
Flooding is the largest natural disaster risk in England and it is expected to rise even further as we experience a changing climate and continue putting more people and property in harm’s way. Managing this growing flood risk requires a broad portfolio of measures to reduce the probability of flooding, keep impact and damages to a minimum and provide financial support for the residual risk. Agreeing on how we pay for this now and in the future is a challenge, with competing drivers such as fairness, economic efficiency, political feasibility and public acceptance all playing their part…
Reflections on the current debate on how to link flood insurance and disaster risk reduction in the European Union
Flood insurance differs widely in scope and form across Europe. Against the backdrop of rising flood losses, a debate about the role of EU policy in shaping the future of this compensation mechanism is led by policy-makers and industry. While the question of supply and demand is at the core of the debate, we argue that another key dimension is often overlooked: how to use insurance as a lever for risk reduction and prevention efforts. We investigate whether and how current EU policies influence flood insurance and how this interplays with the national policy level.
Large-scale application of the flood damage model RAilway Infrastructure Loss (RAIL)
Experience has shown that river floods can significantly hamper the reliability of railway networks and cause extensive structural damage and disruption. As a result, the national railway operator in Austria had to cope with financial losses of more than EUR 100 million due to flooding in recent years. Comprehensive information on potential flood risk hot spots as well as on expected flood damage in Austria is therefore needed for strategic flood risk management.
More Than Fear Induction: Toward an Understanding of People’s Motivation to BeWell-Prepared for Emergencies in Flood-Prone Areas
This article examines the extent and manner to which evaluations of flood-related precautions are affected by an individual’s motivation and perception of context. It argues that the relationship between risk perception and flood risk preparedness can be fruitfully specified in terms of vulnerability and efficacy if these concepts are put into the perspective of prevention focused motivation
Frequency Analysis of Critical Meteorological Conditions in a Changing Climate - Assessing Future Implications for Railway Transportation in Austria
Meteorological extreme events have great potential for damaging railway infrastructure and posing risks to the safety of train passengers. In the future, climate change will presumably have serious implications on meteorological hazards in the Alpine region. In this study, possible impacts of climate change on the frequencies of so-called critical meteorological conditions (CMCs) between the periods 1961–1990 and 2011–2040 are analysed. Thresholds for such CMCs have been defined by the railway operator and used in its weather monitoring and early warning system.
Sensitivity of water scarcity events to ENSO driven climate variability at the global scale
Globally, freshwater shortage is one of the most important risks for society. Changing hydro-climatic and socioeconomic conditions have aggravated water scarcity over the past decades. We present the first global scale sensitivity assessment of water scarcity and water availability to El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the most dominant signal of climate variability.
