Climate Change

Our climate is already changing and will continue to do so.  The effects of predicted changes in climate are causing considerable concern to those responsible for coastal risk management. Without more effective and integrated coastal planning, the consequences for the coastal zone could be severe.

The South West can expect; warmer, drier summers; milder, wetter winters; sea level rise; and more frequent and intense extreme weather events, such as floods, heatwaves, droughts and storms. This will bring both risks and opportunities for the region’s businesses and communities.

Increases in the intensity of precipitation, a rise in sea level and
increased storminess will elevate the risk of coastal flooding. A 20% increase in annual rainfall is anticipated by 2050 and up to 30% by 2100, thus increasing water volumes and velocity.

As a result, an increase in flood storage will be required as well as relatively novel approaches to storage and slow release within the river catchment area. This will have particular consequences for sensitive areas that are already close to or below mean sea level

A rise in sea level will compound the risks already faced by coastal communities as it will reduce the current standards of protection along our coastlines by promoting coastal erosion, putting people and property, including natural habitats and farmland, at an increasing risk of being inundated by coastal storm flooding and the deterioration of water quality.

In addition to coastal storm flooding the increase in rainfall intensity, perhaps by as much as 30% by the 2080s, will increase flooding in urban areas whose current drainage infrastructure will be overwhelmed due to inadequate capacity.

Defra’s strategy ‘Making Space for Water’ (Defra 2005) identified the need for a joined up, comprehensive strategy for the
management of flood and coastal erosion risk in England for the next 20 years. In addition, the Environment Agency produced updated Catchment Flood Management Plans (CFMPs), back in December 2008. These plans provide us with a vision on how we can best reduce flood risk to people and property over the next 50 to 100 years and seek ways in which we could increase biodiversity and habitat as well as meeting the aspirations of the Water Framework Directive.

Due to the flooding that occurred in 2007, the government commissioned Sir Michael Pitt to produce a report to examine both how to reduce the risk and impact of floods, and the emergency response to the floods in June and July of 2007. It sought views from those involved in the floods, including affected residents, the emergency services, business and professional associations. The full Pitt Review report was published in July 2008.