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Experts at talks call for more private prevention efforts
The damage done by flooding in Germany amounted to considerable sums in recent years. The Elbe River flood of August 2002 alone caused some 10 billion euros’ damage. Compulsory insurance for damages done by forces of nature could help to bring down the total damages. 30 experts from science and public administrations discussed the issue during talks on 10 May held at the Federal Environment Agency (UBA). They emphasized the necessity of implementing economic instruments and incentives of precautionary flood protection. Of special note is the role played by greater self-protection of those who are exposed to these risks—in addition to providing the population with better information about flood risk.
The experts recommend a two-track strategy: firstly, they recommend increasing awareness of flood danger through improved risk education. The Flood Control Act, which entered into force on 10 May, provides a critical foundation by requiring mapping of flood and flood-risk areas. Secondly, sweeping incentives to behave in certain ways must be put in place, for example by instituting compulsory insurance for damages done by forces of nature. Insurance premiums should cover damage risk (e.g. from flooding, storms, or heavy precipitation) as well as offer special rebates to those who undertake flood protection measures on their own. In addition, grants for private investments for projects such as remodelling a building to withstand a flood should be stepped up. The experts agreed that individuals’ willingness to take precautionary flood protection measures for property increases with fair compensation for any damage done by flooding.
The talks held on 10 May were the second in a series of three rounds hosted by the Institute for Organisation Communication (IFOK) on behalf of the UBA as part of a research project on preventive flood protection. The objective is to promote exchange of information and an open dialogue with the scientific community with the aim of early identification of future areas of activity in preventive flood protection. The main focus of the second round of talks was on economic issues. In addition to individuals’ efforts to increase flood prevention, discussions looked at instruments to improve strategic decision-making in river basin areas as well as the role played by economic incentives to improve preventive flood protection at the municipal level.
The third round of talks will take place in September 2005. The main topics will be the possible synergies between flood protection and the Water Framework Directive as well as new standards achieved through stronger international cooperation in the river regions. Again an interdisciplinary group of participants will be invited.
The results of the second round of talks will soon be posted online at http://www.umweltbundesamt.de/wasser. For more information on the Wissenschaftliche Begleitung im Rahmen des vorbeugenden Hochwasserschutzes [Expert counselling in preventive flood protection] research project, please send an email to wasser@uba.de.
Berlin, 23 May 2005