Assessing cascading effects from multiple hazards: an example from Sweden

This brief provides an overview of methods and tools to assess the cascading effects that multiple events may have on critical infrastructure and social groups and a summary of their application in a Swedish case study. Much of the existing assessments of climate change impacts are large-scale simulations. Small- and local-scale assessments are necessary for nuanced understanding of possible impacts of multiple hazards on society.

HydroHazards zooms into the municipality of Halmstad to explore the likelihood of multiple hydrometeorological (i.e., water and weather) events occurring sequentially or in the same location. Furthermore, we investigate the effects that climate change may have on the intensity and frequency of multiple hazards by focusing on extreme – low likelihood but high impact – events. Lastly, we look at the cascading or so-called domino effects on critical infrastructures and vital societal services and how these effects may cause new social vulnerabilities.