OHP

UK APPROACH TO CLIMATE CHANGE:

IMPACTS AND ADAPTATION

UK APPROACH TO CLIMATE CHANGE:

IMPACTS AND ADAPTATION

Dr Penny BramwellDepartment of the Environment,

Transport and the Regions

Dr Penny BramwellDepartment of the Environment,

Transport and the Regions

OHP

Rationale - why is adaptation important?

Rationale - why is adaptation important?

Greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere mean we will have to adapt to some climate change

Responsibility for adaptation falls widely - not just Govt.

Costs of not adapting; long timescales; need to prioritise

Need to engage and raise awareness

Develop common assumptions; toolkit; guidance

Establish mechanism for reporting and monitoring

Greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere mean we will have to adapt to some climate change

Responsibility for adaptation falls widely - not just Govt.

Costs of not adapting; long timescales; need to prioritise

Need to engage and raise awareness

Develop common assumptions; toolkit; guidance

Establish mechanism for reporting and monitoring

OHP

DETR Research Programmeon Impacts and Adaptation

DETR Research Programmeon Impacts and Adaptation

UK indicators of climate change

Global impacts work

Bilateral studies with developing countries

UKCIP

Initial work on adaptation priorities

Internal review of vulnerability of key operational and policy responsibilities

UK indicators of climate change

Global impacts work

Bilateral studies with developing countries

UKCIP

Initial work on adaptation priorities

Internal review of vulnerability of key operational and policy responsibilities

Funding of £1 Million p.a. including:

OHP

Observations / IndicatorsObservations / Indicators

Extreme weather events:

e.g. floods (SE England)

Extreme weather events:

e.g. floods (SE England)

Spring date of oak leafing in relation to the av. temperature in central

England in Jan-Mar

Spring date of oak leafing in relation to the av. temperature in central

England in Jan-Mar

OHP

Helping organisations adaptHelping organisations adapt

UK Climate Impacts Programme

facilitating organisations to assess their vulnerability to climate change and plan appropriate adaptation responses

taking a stakeholder-led approach and raising institutional awareness

developing a toolkit of climate change scenarios, socio-economic scenarios; costing methodology; and guidelines for decision-making and undertaking impacts assessments

UK Climate Impacts Programme

facilitating organisations to assess their vulnerability to climate change and plan appropriate adaptation responses

taking a stakeholder-led approach and raising institutional awareness

developing a toolkit of climate change scenarios, socio-economic scenarios; costing methodology; and guidelines for decision-making and undertaking impacts assessments

OHP

UKCIP Programme Office

INTEGRATION

REGIONAL / SUB-UK STUDIES SECTORAL STUDIES

Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

Steering Committee

Science Advisory Panel

User Forum

DETR/MAFF

Health

Gardens

MONARCH

Water Deman

d

ACCEL-ERATES

MarClim

West Midland

s

East Midland

s

South East

England

South West

England

North West

England

WalesScotland

Northern Ireland

London

Yorkshire & Humberside

North East

England

REGIS

Biodiversity Review

UKCIP Programme StructureUKCIP Programme Structure

OHP

Scoping study initiated / underway

Conference held

Scoping study completed

Integrated assessment underway. Coverage to be extended

Gaps

Study output

Further work needed

Current status ofsub-UK studiesCurrent status ofsub-UK studies Scotland scoping study

completed December 1999 Further studies started

East Midlands scoping study completed July 2000 Study to be completed

REGIS study underway in North West England and East Anglia - to be completed early 2001

Eastern region study at inception Gaps in Eastern England regional coverage to be filled.

South West England conferences held December 1999 (Cornwall) and January 2001 (Cheltenham). Funders for scoping study coming forward. Scoping study to be undertaken

North East England - start-up meeting held May 2001

London start-up meeting summer 2001

South East England scoping study completed November 1999.Move to extend area - meeting March 2001 Gaps in regional coverage to be filled.

Wales scoping study completed February 2000 Funding being sought to implement next steps.

West Midlands scoping study underway Scoping study to be undertaken.

North West England scoping study completed December 1998 Funding being sought for next stepsFull study being considered

Northern Ireland scoping study underway Scoping study to be undertaken

Yorkshire and Humberside - start-up meeting held March 2001

OHP

Consortium of key decision-makers formed

UK Climate Impacts Programme

UKCIP facilitated stakeholder workshop -identify key study issues

Stakeholder consultation UKCIP tool-kit / guidance

Steering Group

Launch of results and workshop to identify next steps and priorities for detailed work

Scoping study

OHP

Funders of UKCIP studiesFunders of UKCIP studiesThe Scottish Executive, National Assembly for Wales, Department of the Environment Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Environment and Heritage Service, Acordis, Arkleton Trust, Association of British Insurers, AXA Insurance, Blaby District Council, Boston District Council, Carlton TV, CCMS - Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Cheshire County Council, Cornwall County Council, Country Life Magazine, Countryside Agency, Countryside Council for Wales, Department of Health, Derbyshire County Council DETR Wildlife and Countryside Directorate, Dúchas The Heritage Service, National Parks and Wildlife (Republic of Ireland), Duchy of Cornwall, East Midlands Airport, East Midlands Link, English Nature, Environment Agency, Farming and Rural Conservation Agency, Government Offices for the East Midlands, North West England, South East England, South West England and West Midlands, Hampshire County Council, Kent County Council, Lancashire County Council, Leicestershire County Council, MAFF, Manchester Airport, Marsh UK Ltd, Midlands Environment Business Club, The National Trust, The National Trust for Scotland, NatWest Bank, North West Regional Association, North West Regional Chamber, North West Water, Northamptonshire County Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Peak District National Park, PROSPER, Rolls Royce plc, The Royal Horticultural Society, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Scottish Natural Heritage, Severn Trent Water, South West Water, Surrey County Council, Surrey Wildlife Trust, Sustainability North West, SWEB, SWEL, Tarmac plc, Thames Water, Toyota UK, TXU Europe Power Ltd,UKWIR,University of Exeter, University of Plymouth, Wessex Water, West Sussex County Council, Westcountry Television, Westcountry Tourist Board, Wilkinson and WWF-UK.

The Scottish Executive, National Assembly for Wales, Department of the Environment Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Environment and Heritage Service, Acordis, Arkleton Trust, Association of British Insurers, AXA Insurance, Blaby District Council, Boston District Council, Carlton TV, CCMS - Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Cheshire County Council, Cornwall County Council, Country Life Magazine, Countryside Agency, Countryside Council for Wales, Department of Health, Derbyshire County Council DETR Wildlife and Countryside Directorate, Dúchas The Heritage Service, National Parks and Wildlife (Republic of Ireland), Duchy of Cornwall, East Midlands Airport, East Midlands Link, English Nature, Environment Agency, Farming and Rural Conservation Agency, Government Offices for the East Midlands, North West England, South East England, South West England and West Midlands, Hampshire County Council, Kent County Council, Lancashire County Council, Leicestershire County Council, MAFF, Manchester Airport, Marsh UK Ltd, Midlands Environment Business Club, The National Trust, The National Trust for Scotland, NatWest Bank, North West Regional Association, North West Regional Chamber, North West Water, Northamptonshire County Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Peak District National Park, PROSPER, Rolls Royce plc, The Royal Horticultural Society, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Scottish Natural Heritage, Severn Trent Water, South West Water, Surrey County Council, Surrey Wildlife Trust, Sustainability North West, SWEB, SWEL, Tarmac plc, Thames Water, Toyota UK, TXU Europe Power Ltd,UKWIR,University of Exeter, University of Plymouth, Wessex Water, West Sussex County Council, Westcountry Television, Westcountry Tourist Board, Wilkinson and WWF-UK.

OHP

UK Adaptation PrioritiesUK Adaptation Priorities Commissioned independent research to identify UK priorities for

action on adaptation; workshop held with key decision makers

Adaptation priorities: Water resources management Coastal and riverine flood protection Enhanced resilience of buildings and infrastructure Protection of designated species and habitats Land use and sectoral planning Better climate information Need for awareness raising

Commissioned independent research to identify UK priorities for action on adaptation; workshop held with key decision makers

Adaptation priorities: Water resources management Coastal and riverine flood protection Enhanced resilience of buildings and infrastructure Protection of designated species and habitats Land use and sectoral planning Better climate information Need for awareness raising

OHP

UK Adaptation PrioritiesUK Adaptation PrioritiesUK Climate Change Programme (Nov 2000) explains the impacts of climate change on the UK & how we might adapt to them

Initiated debate on strategic adaptation priorities at a national level ongoing - but initial feedback suggests:

broad consensus on the adaptation priorities at a sectoral level

debate welcomed; but emphasised that more was urgently required to fully understand the implications

wide-support for the stakeholder-led approach that the Government was taking on adaptation & through UKCIP

need for better predictions and data

UK Climate Change Programme (Nov 2000) explains the impacts of climate change on the UK & how we might adapt to them

Initiated debate on strategic adaptation priorities at a national level ongoing - but initial feedback suggests:

broad consensus on the adaptation priorities at a sectoral level

debate welcomed; but emphasised that more was urgently required to fully understand the implications

wide-support for the stakeholder-led approach that the Government was taking on adaptation & through UKCIP

need for better predictions and data

OHP

Internal Review of VulnerabilityInternal Review of Vulnerability

Internal assessment of the vulnerability of key policy and operational responsibilities to climate change

Hope to encourage others to undertake similar assessments

raise profile of adaptation

alert decision-makers scale and potential costs implied by adaptation

Internal assessment of the vulnerability of key policy and operational responsibilities to climate change

Hope to encourage others to undertake similar assessments

raise profile of adaptation

alert decision-makers scale and potential costs implied by adaptation

OHP

Specific Government Action on Adaptation

Specific Government Action on Adaptation

25 year water resources and drought plans from water companies

promoting efficient use of water (inc. new Water Regs)

incorporated SLR allowance into coastal defences

£100m programme to improve flood warning services

commenced development of CHaMPS which include consideration of sea level rise

25 year water resources and drought plans from water companies

promoting efficient use of water (inc. new Water Regs)

incorporated SLR allowance into coastal defences

£100m programme to improve flood warning services

commenced development of CHaMPS which include consideration of sea level rise

OHP

strengthening planning guidance in flood plain areas to advise precautionary risk-based approach

started to consider the huge implications of c.c. for the planning process (best practice guide)

supported agri-environment schemes which will help maintain and enhance biodiversity in the countryside

taken action to strengthen protection of SSSIs

begun to consider implications for Building Regs

strengthening planning guidance in flood plain areas to advise precautionary risk-based approach

started to consider the huge implications of c.c. for the planning process (best practice guide)

supported agri-environment schemes which will help maintain and enhance biodiversity in the countryside

taken action to strengthen protection of SSSIs

begun to consider implications for Building Regs

Specific Government Action on Adaptation

Specific Government Action on Adaptation

OHP

Planned New WorkPlanned New Work ‘No Regrets’ measures

More detailed regional work within UKCIP (matching funding from regions)

Higher profile meetings with other Government departments and key interest groups

New UKCIP scenarios - giving greater spatial detail and more information on extremes; targeted guidance

Input into the Third National Communication

‘No Regrets’ measures

More detailed regional work within UKCIP (matching funding from regions)

Higher profile meetings with other Government departments and key interest groups

New UKCIP scenarios - giving greater spatial detail and more information on extremes; targeted guidance

Input into the Third National Communication

OHP

Other ApproachesOther Approaches

Bilateral meetings and presentations (by climate experts) - with those with some vulnerability and decision-making responsibilities

Raising awareness of the need to consider the importance of factoring the UKCIP98/02 scenarios in planning and other policy guidance

Bilateral meetings and presentations (by climate experts) - with those with some vulnerability and decision-making responsibilities

Raising awareness of the need to consider the importance of factoring the UKCIP98/02 scenarios in planning and other policy guidance

OHP

ConclusionConclusion Still at early stages

Fast moving issue

Floods and other extreme events putting climate change in the public eye

Need to develop awareness without scare-mongering

Need a co-ordinated approach to risk-based decision-making

Need a common framework: tool-kit approach

Still at early stages

Fast moving issue

Floods and other extreme events putting climate change in the public eye

Need to develop awareness without scare-mongering

Need a co-ordinated approach to risk-based decision-making

Need a common framework: tool-kit approach