Our aim is to minimise the harm caused by flooding. This involves reducing the likelihood of flooding and reducing the impacts when flooding occurs. At the same time there are underlying pressures that are increasing risk, such as climate change, housing development or changes in land use. Sometimes we can affect these drivers, for example by influencing planning and land development. There are, however, other drivers that are beyond our direct influence, such as climate change impacts on the weather and sea level rise. Figure one shows some of the things that can change the risk of flooding
