Adaptation10: November 2024

Valencia is the latest victim of horrific floods in Europe. The sudden inundation of the Spanish city and its surrounding environs claimed over 200 lives, and is on track to become the most expensive weather-related shock the country has ever seen.

The watery assault was truly unprecedented. In the worst hit areas, rain cascaded down at a rate of 422 liters per square meter (~162 in/ft²). Authorities said parts of the region experienced nearly a year’s worth of rain in just eight hours.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to all those affected by this tragedy.

What occurred in Valencia, as terrible and unparalleled as it seems, could become all too common as climate risks accelerate. Warm air holds more water, and hotter seas can produce more ominous storms — a recipe for downpours of devastating power. These disasters are made even more potent because of the increasing urbanization of human communities. Dense, built-up areas are less able to absorb frenzied rains, and can channel flood waters in dangerous and destructive ways.

This year alone, parts of Germany, the UK, Italy, and France have been ravaged by floods. Developing countries have not been spared, either. These disasters have swept through the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chad, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Thailand, and dozens more poorer nations, which are less able to bounce back than richer nations.

Nor is the US immune. That country’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tracked 28 billion-dollar climate disasters last year: of which four were flood related.

Few parts of the world are safe from flooding, and all kinds of communities are vulnerable to them. Rural areas suffer loss of arable land and population displacement. Urban regions suffer damaged infrastructure and impaired transport networks. Coastal, inland, usually dry or usually wet — it doesn’t matter. Floods can devastate them all.

The second-order effects of these disasters shouldn’t be ignored, either. Floods leave lasting scars: disrupted food systems, polluted drinking water, eroded soils, and public health crises from waterborne diseases. 

It’s small wonder, then, that a large part of the emerging adaptation economy is bent on addressing flood risks. In this month’s Adaptation10, we shine a light on ten more trailblazing organizations working to tackle floods before, during, and after they occur. Looking for more? Then check out the 10 we explored back in July here.

Learn about five of this month’s set of companies projects below, and for the full list, upgrade to a Climate Proof premium subscription — which also unlocks previous editions of Adaptation10 as well as a wealth of climate adaptation news and insights.

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Are you a climate adaptation startup and want to be considered for a future edition of Adaptation10? Then get in touch here👇

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Thanks for reading!

Louie Woodall & Daniel Schmitz-Remberg