Jean Daubigny, the Prefect of Paris et Co-ordinator of the Seine-Normandy basin; Rolf Alter, Director of the OECD Public Governance and Territorial Development Directorate; and Frédéric Molossi, President of the Basin Organisation Seine Grands Lacs launched the OECD Review of risk management policies related to the risk of flood from the Seine in the Ile-de-France region.

The Basin Organisation Seine Grands Lacs, in partnership with the French Ministry of Ecology and the Ile-de-France regional council, has invited  the OECD to study ways to minimise the risks and  limit the costs that would be incurred if the Seine and its tributaries were to flood the Ile-de-France region.

The metropolitan area of Paris is highly exposed to the risk of a major flood of the Seine River, simimar to the great floods of 1910.  A major flood could cause severe damage to the largest economic metropolis in continental Europe. Recent events including Hurricane Sandy in New York City, floods in Bangkok in 2011 and Prague in 2002, have shown the potential for disruption, and the impacts to the economy and well-being in large urban areas.

This kick-off meeting outlined the urgent need for policies to prevent the social and economic costs of such a major flood and presented the review methodology and expected deliverables to 150 stakeholders from the public and private sectors.