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Climate and change |
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Over the past century, the eight hottest summers have taken place in the last ten years. There have been two major floods in the Thames catchment only 15 months apart - October 2002 and January 2003. In the latter, the Thames Barrier was used 14 times, at every tide. The Thames Barrier will be at the end of its life in 2025 - and it was 18 years in the making. Sea level rises - 6mm a year - drier summers with prolonged periods of heat and drought, wetter winters, changes in rainfall patterns with inundation more common, are all predicted consequences that will change our enviornment and our lives. LIving in a riparian borough, it is clear that we should carefully consider the impacts of climate change and global warming. Scientists are astonished and dismayed at its rapid onset, and for the foreseeable future, in human terms, it cannot be reversed. The gases are in the atmosphere and will not quickly disperse - even if we stop adding to them now, they tell us. So the government has come out with a new consultation on how to tackle climate change, especially relevant for communities affected by it. Called "Making Space for Water", it promotes a sustainable approach to flood management using natural processes and managed realignment of river courses. This could include encouraging creation of wetland habitat and planting of riparian woodland on flood plain. "The Government is committed to ensuring that land-use policy aims to reduce, and certainly not to add to, the overall level of flood risk," states the consultation summary paper. The Environment Agency, whose advice in the past has not always been heeded by planning authorities when considering applications within floodplains, has firmed up recommendations for building in flood risk areas. For example,. the current advice from the Agency is to set groundfloor levels at 600 - 900mm above the one in one hundred year flood level for any rebuilding. New building is less likely to be permitted, with flood plain areas made over instead for flood relief, flood storage capacity and flood water flows. Forest researchers predict that native indigenous tree species are likely to be adversely affected by climate change, especially in the South East, which will experience the greatest degree of global warming. Tree die-off is already apparent in some areas of the south downs near the coast. Oak, birch, ash, beech, growing on free-draining soils and uplands are predicted to decline, but they might fare better on river flood plains, where they would also contribute to flood storage capacity and conveyance of floor water flows. According to forest research, we are likely to be seeing sweet chestnut and walnut flourishing in place of our familiar trees. The governments "Making Space for Water" consultation aims to raise awareness and an understanding among us all of the consequences of global warming and climate change. The closing date is November 6, and the full consultation documentation is here: Monday, August 2, 2004
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