Flooding and Coastal Resilience
—— 01 - OVERVIEW
Summary
Flooding and sea-level rise are dual risks for municipalities across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), where coastal cities depend on their beaches for tourism-driven economies and inland centers near major rivers face storm surges, extreme rainfall, and gradual inundation. After LAC's warmest year on record in 2024—marked by record-breaking hurricanes and catastrophic floods such as those in Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul—this chapter reviews grey, nature-based, and hybrid solutions, alongside early warning systems, resilient planning, and community engagement, to strengthen flood and coastal resilience across the region.
What you will find in this chapter
- Flood barrier projects and grey infrastructure
- Nature-based solutions for coastal protection
- Early warning systems and risk communication
- Integrated coastal and watershed management
- Climate-resilient urban planning and zoning
- Drainage infrastructure modernization and green infrastructure
- Community engagement and social equity
Key questions
- What mix of grey and nature-based infrastructure best protects LAC coastlines?
- How can early warning systems reduce flood losses in vulnerable communities?
- How should cities integrate coastal and watershed management?
- How can resilient urban planning and zoning be enforced in fast-growing cities?
- How can community engagement ensure equitable flood resilience?