Global evidence on urban resilience and adaptation to flood
CSEP Auditorium
New global research shows that floods reduce urban economic activity by 4.5% on average, with losses 3.5 times higher in low-income countries. While cities are becoming more resilient over time, the benefits of adaptation remain uneven, highlighting a critical adaptation gap.
In this context, the Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP) is delighted to host a seminar titled “Global Evidence on Urban Resilience and Adaptation to Flood Risk” on Monday, April 20, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm (IST) at the CSEP Auditorium, 6, Dr Jose P Rizal Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi – 110021.
The seminar will feature a presentation by Sahil Gandhi, Non-Resident Fellow, CSEP & Assistant Professor, University of Manchester. This will be followed by a discussion with Farzana Afridi, Professor and Head, Economics and Planning Unit, Indian Statistical Institute (Delhi) and Rana Hasan, Regional Lead Economist for South Asia, Economic Research and Development Impact Department, Asian Development Bank. The session will be moderated by Pooja Ramamurthi, Fellow, CSEP.
Please note that this is an in-person event only. If you are in Delhi on the day, we invite you to join us for what promises to be a thought-provoking discussion. The event will be available on the CSEP website and YouTube channel upon completion.
About the event
We study how flood impacts, resilience, and adaptation differ across cities worldwide. Combining 3,931 major floods (2000–2023) with data on 9,468 cities in 175 countries, we show: (i) floods reduce urban economic activity by 4.5 percent on average, with losses 3.5 times larger in low-income countries; (ii) cities are becoming more resilient, as sensitivity of economic activity and mortality to floods declines over time, driven by experience-based learning; and (iii) adaptation mechanisms vary by income — dams mitigate losses globally, while migration and critical infrastructure enhance resilience only in high-income cities. The disproportionate flood impacts and limited adaptation effectiveness in developing nations highlight an adaptation gap.