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Earth

Climate change may not be all bad for UK’s economy, report says

By New Scientist and Press Association

12 July 2016

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The UK is at risk of even more floods

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Urgent action is needed to deal with the already significant risks of flooding and heatwaves caused by the changing climate, UK government advisers have warned.

Other risks from global warming that urgently need to be tackled include water shortages for homes, agriculture, energy and industry and effects on domestic and inter-national food production and trade.

A new assessment of the risks climate change poses to the UK has also highlighted that rising temperatures could harm wildlife and natural systems such as fisheries and bring new pests and diseases.

More action and research is needed by Government in the next five years to address the problems, the report from the Committee on Climate Change‘s adaptation sub-committee has warned.

But there are also opportunities, including a potential boost to UK agriculture and forestry from warmer weather and a longer growing season, if water shortages and soil quality can be managed.

And British businesses may be able to take advantage of an increase in global demand in goods and services which help people adapt to climate change, such as engineering and insurance, the report said.

The analysis warns that floods and coastal erosion are already a significant risk, but “more ambitious approaches” could offset growing flood damage – if temperature rises were kept to 2 °C above pre-industrial levels.

However, while improving protection for some towns, cities and villages would be possible, others will face a significant increased risk – even putting the viability of some communities under threat.

The report also warned of major risks from floods, even with the most ambitious efforts to protect against them, if temperature rises are allowed to spiral to 4 °C above pre-industrial levels.

Heatwaves also pose an urgent and growing risk, with the number of hot days a year on the rise since the 1960s and the extreme heat seen in 2003 that killed 2,000 people across the UK likely to become the norm by the 2040s, the analysis warned.

The risk of water scarcity is also a growing one, with estimates that public water supplies will fall short of total demand by 5 per cent to 16 per cent across the UK by the 2050s, the report said.

Delays in introducing policies to adapt homes, hospitals, care homes, schools, prisons and business premises will increase risks and hit people’s health, wellbeing and productivity.

“The impacts of climate change are becoming ever clearer, both in the United Kingdom and around the world,” said Lord Krebs, chairman of the sub-committee. “We must take action now to prepare for the further, inevitable changes we can expect.

“Our independent assessment today, supported by the work of hundreds of scientists and other experts, identifies the most urgent climate change risks and opportunities which need to be addressed. Delaying or failing to take appropriate steps will increase the costs and risks for all UK nations arising from the changing climate.”

Read more: Europe blazes trail against climate change

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