4 Policy developments and implementation

please provide general comments on chapter 4 here

The management of flood plains and river catchments at large has many objectives. Keeping flood risks at an acceptable level must be combined with the needs of other societal, economic and ecological functions. Agriculture, inland navigation, hydropower, forestry, recreation, housing and industry are amongst the most prominent socio-economic activities found in flood plains. Mapping the demands of these sometimes conflicting interests, including their relative influence, and reconciling them with environmental protection and restoration to increase the ecosystem services delivered, is an increasingly relevant and complex task.

The focus of this chapter is on highlighting recent developments and insights in EU policy and in research, as far as relevant for the overlapping areas of flood risk management, flood vulnerability and its environmental impacts. Our objective is not to provide full summaries of these policies and research projects, but from all these initiatives we picked those elements which focus on the interlinkages between water, environment and economic policies and sectors.

Figure 4.1 gives a schematic overview of the contents of this chapter. The directly water-related directives and the water-related sectoral policies are discussed in section 4.1, the cross-cutting issues - including driving forces like climate change or spatial planning but also aspects as governance - that are of special interest for at least several policy fields in are described in section 4.2.

Figure 4.1       Schematic overview of the contents of Chapter 4.

Disaster Risk Reduction

Disaster risk reduction is the concept and practice of reducing disaster risks through systematic efforts to analyse and reduce the causal factors of disasters. Reducing exposure to hazards, lessening vulnerability of people and property, wise management of land and the environment, and improving preparedness and early warning for adverse events are all examples of disaster risk reduction (see also Figure 2.1).

In March 2015, the third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction was held in Sendai, Japan. The conference adopted the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (UN 2015). This Framework aims for ’The substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health and in the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries.’ The Sendai Framework sets four specific priorities for action:

• understanding disaster risk;

• strengthening disaster risk governance;

• investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience and enhancing disaster preparedness; and

• "Build Back Better" in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

To support the assessment of global progress in achieving the outcome and goal of the Sendai Framework, seven global targets have been agreed, aimed at reducing the impacts of disasters, at enhancing preparedness, at enhancing international cooperation and at development and improved access to early warning systems.

The Sendai Framework attributes a primary role to reduce disaster risk to the state, although this responsibility should be shared with other stakeholders. It defines resilience as a priority and emphasises the importance of locally-driven solutions. It pays attention to social vulnerability and recognises social processes and weak institutional arrangements as drivers of risk. It furthermore pays ample attention to environmental aspects. There is a strong recognition that reconstruction of eco-systems and nature-based solutions are crucial in the protection against disasters.

Disaster Risk Reduction and the Floods Directive

There are obvious differences in scope and legal status between the Sendai Framework and the FD, but they show many similarities as well.

Figure 4.2       The Disaster Risk Reduction Cycle

Source: Swiss Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP s.d.)

The FD deals with all aspects of the DRR cycle in Figure 4.2, although it focuses on prevention, protection and preparation (the 'reducing vulnerability' part of the cycle, or the pre-event in Figure 4.2). Many of the new elements of the Sendai Framework are already included in the FD: stakeholder involvement, the importance of governance, ecosystems and eco-based solutions. Climate change is acknowledged in the Sendai Framework as a driver of disaster risk. In the Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs), climate change is getting increasing attention. The Sendai Framework offers little guidance to governments to link DRR and adaptation planning and funding mechanisms. Actions highlighted include the use of climate change scenarios to inform risk assessments and maps, and collaboration across institutions for DRR and adaptation at all scales, as also promoted under the FD.