Warning that floods like the ones which ravaged Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Odisha are imminent between now and 2090, a report of The Royal Society, London, has suggested effective and affordable options to reduce the damage likely to be wrought by such extreme weather conditions. The report, titled ?Resilience to extreme weather,? released at an event chaired by Nobel laureate and president of The Royal Society, Sir Paul Nurse, said people of India could be exposed not only to floods, but drought and heat wave as well because of the combined effects of climate and demographic changes, with those aged above 65 years most vulnerable to such weather conditions.

?The risks to people from extreme weather are increasing. We must act now if we are to reduce the impact of future events. We need to use the best of engineering but combine that with approaches that work with nature. For example, planting trees to slow down water runoff, or using marshes or mangroves to buffer coastal defences. If we do not act now, we risk further loss of life, property and possessions,? Dr. Bhaskar Vira, of the University of Cambridge, and a member of the working group which put the report together, told media persons on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Science Conference here on Thursday.

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