What is climate whiplash? New report reveals dangers of flooding and drought in European cities

A new report has revealed how the 100 most populated cities globally are becoming increasingly exposed to flooding and drought.

The study, led by WaterAid with academics from the University of Bristol and Cardiff University, shows widespread drying throughout European cities.

These include the Spanish capital Madrid, which was ranked second among the 49 drying cities, and the UK capital London, ranked 44th.

Findings also indicate that almost one in five of the cities studied are experiencing ‘climate whiplash’, defined as intensifying floods and droughts.

A similar proportion (20 per cent) have seen a major switch from one extreme to the other, known as ‘climate hazard flips.’

Co-lead scientist Katerina Michaelides, Professor of Dryland Hydrology at the University of Bristol, says, “The findings from our study illustrate just how differently and dramatically climate change is expressing around the globe - there is no one-size-fits-all.”

European cities are experiencing ‘climate hazard flips’

All European cities analysed exhibit drying trends over the past 42 years, the report found.

London, Paris, Berlin, Stockholm and Istanbul could all see more frequent and long-lasting droughts as a result.

Some European cities are facing ‘climate hazard flips’. Barcelona and Madrid are experiencing a particularly strong flip from wet to dry.

Around the globe, around 13 per cent of cities are switching to a more extreme wet climate, while the remaining 7 per cent are shifting to a more extreme dry climate.

“Places that were historically wet are becoming dry and vice versa. Other places are now increasingly battered by both extreme floods and droughts,” says Michaelides.

“A deeper understanding of localised climate hazards can support more intelligent and bespoke planning in major cities.”

Europe’s cities face water shortages

The study also compares each city’s social and water infrastructure vulnerabilities - alongside new data on climate hazards spanning 40 years - to identify which are the most vulnerable to extreme climate changes and the least equipped to handle them.

Vulnerabilities examined range from poverty to poor water and waste systems. Severe urban flooding can damage sanitation facilities, spreading diseases such as cholera and typhoid, whilst water shortages during droughts can leave millions of families without essential water.

“As the nature and intensity of natural hazards change, their impacts on urban communities will be significantly shaped by social and infrastructural vulnerabilities,” says Dr Sean Fox, Associate Professor in Global Development at the University of Bristol, who also contributed to the research.

“In other words, risk isn’t just about the chance of a flood or drought occurring, it’s also about how prepared communities are to deal with these hazards.”

The report places European cities like Barcelona, Berlin and Paris at a higher risk than those in North America and Australia, due to the continent’s aging water and waste infrastructure potentially leaving urban populations more exposed.

90 per cent of all climate disasters driven by too much or too little water

From recent droughts in cities like Madrid and Cape Town to large-scale flooding across cities in Bangladesh and Pakistan, WaterAid claims 90 per cent of all climate disasters are driven by too much or too little water.

It warns that weather-related disasters such as flooding and drought have grown fourfold in the last 50 years.

This is putting major pressure on vital water access and sanitation systems and making it harder for communities and economies to prepare for, recover from, and adapt to climate change.

In light of global aid cuts, WaterAid is calling on the UK, global governments, multilateral banks, and the private sector to work together to unlock investment and implement solutions to tackle climate change and water crises.

“Now, we need to turn commitments into action - for leaders to build and invest in systems worldwide that can withstand extreme weather and keep clean water flowing globally,” says Tim Wainwright, WaterAid UK’s chief executive.