In 2021, we are no strangers to the throes of climate change, with examples including the ongoing drought in the Western United States and recent flooding in Germany and Belgium. Flooding, particularly on coasts, threatens families and communities.

In a recent study published in the academic journal Earth’s Future, researchers looked at the costs of coastal flooding through an equity lens, finding that flooding comes with both monetary and social risks, suggesting that many people who own or rent homes at risk from rising sea levels may not have enough money to pay for the associated damages.

"The impact of coastal flooding on communities hinges not only on the cost, but on the ability of households to pay for the damages," the researchers write.

The study, which analyzed counties in the San Francisco Bay Area, projected flooding impacts from 2020 to 2060, determining that coastal flooding disproportionately impacts lower-income households. Climate change has already altered the risk of certain natural disasters, such as flooding, and is projected to worsen other hazards and potentially create future threats.

"The ramifications for the financial security of individual households and for the communities as a whole depend sensitively on the socioeconomic context," the researchers write, emphasizing the social risk that comes with not being able to afford flooding damages.

Read the full article about rising floodwaters by Elise Bernstein at GreenBiz.