British scientists have warned that coastal regions globally may face massive increases in damages from storm surge flooding in the coming century with climate change.
The report comes as Britain reels from massive floods, many of them in coastal regions, which have lasted for several weeks and caused widespread disruption to the country.
As a result the Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron has promised an additional $182 million to aid repair work across the country.
Researchers at the University of Southampton reported that if no action is taken, global average storm surge damages could increase from the present US$10 billion to US$40 billion a year, to up to US$100 billion a year by the end of century.
The American newsagency UPI reports they were part of a study led by the Berlin-based think-tank Global Climate Forum.
The study presented, for the first time, comprehensive global simulation results on future flood damages to buildings and infrastructure in coastal flood plains.
Both rising sea levels and population and economic growth in the coastal zones could drastically raise the level of damages, the researcher said.
They said Asia and Africa would be particularly hard hit because of their rapidly growing coastal mega-cities such as Shanghai, Manila and Lagos.
“If we ignore this problem, the consequences will be dramatic,” study lead author Jochen Hinkel of the GCF said.
UPI reports the researchers said that by 2100, up to 600 million could be affected by coastal flooding if no adaptation measures are put in place.
“If we ignore sea-level rise, flood damages will progressively rise and presently good defences will be degraded and ultimately overwhelmed,” University of Southampton researcher Robert Nicholls said.
“Hence we must start to adapt now, be that planning higher defences, flood-proofing buildings and strategically planning coastal land use.”
In Britain, responding to accusations from Labour Party opposition leader Ed Miliband that the government had been “slow” to react to the recent floods, Mr Cameron promised to do “whatever is required” to help homes and businesses to get back on their feet.
Media reports says Mr Cameron also reiterated disputed claims the coalition will spend $4.4bn more on flood defences than the previous Labour government.
However, the Committee on Climate Change has criticised the government’s use of flood spending figures, arguing that in real terms, cuts in spending will leave the UK facing an “avoidable” $5.5bn bill from increased flood risks.
Green groups welcomed the promise of an additional $182m, but attacked the government for only providing funding for repairs and sticking to capital spending plans that fall short of that recommended by climate change experts.
The British government has faced fierce criticism in recent weeks over its handling of the flooding that has hit large parts of England.
Most notably, green groups have revealed how the government has cut direct spending on flood protection at a time when its scientific advisers have consistently warned that increased investment is required to tackle escalating climate change risks.
