The UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) 2012 has now been published. It is the first assessment of its kind for the UK and the first in a 5 year cycle. It provides underpinning evidence that can be used by Government to help inform priorities for action and appropriate adaptation measures. It also highlights where more work is needed to understand the scale and nature of the risks, and to help us consider what action we need to take and as such will inform the development of the National Adaptation Programme (NAP) which UK Government will publish in 2013.
To coincide with the publication of the UK CCRA 2012 and given the importance of local adaptation action, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) commissioned the Climate Change Partnerships across England to produce an information pack to highlight key risks and opportunities from climate change within each area. Drawing on information within the CCRA and other local evidence, the analysis illustrates what climate change may mean for people, businesses, community and charitable groups, local authorities, and other organisations across key sectors, at the local level. It also highlights where there is a strong case for greater local action.
Download our the initial interpretation of how the CCRA
identifies the opportunities
and risks for the North West here (High resolution available
here).
Your views on the CCRA will be critical for us to contribute to the next step in the process, which is the development of the National Adaptation Programme (NAP), led by Defra and also the development of the Environment Agency's new role as the adaption delivery body in England.
The NAP will set out what policies and actions are needed to take action on the risks (and opportunities) from climate change. Defra aim to co-create this with involvement from all relevant stakeholders, and to ensure a strong local component. A key part of this will be informed by the 'Call for Views' which means individuals, businesses, local authorities, community, charitable or voluntary organisations can tell Defra:
- how climate risks affect us;
- the most urgent areas for action;
- what action is already underway to address risks;
- the key barriers to addressing risks;
- of new or innovative actions or opportunities for addressing risks.
This will be a key opportunity for us to feed in our own unique
perspectives as the NAP is being developed. To take part in the
Call for Views follow http://engage.defra.gov.uk/nap.
This exercise will last until April 2012.
Impacts and Responses for Key Business Sectors and Public Services in the Northwest of England
In advance of the publication of the UKCP09
projections, the Northwest Climate Change Partnership commissioned
a study by Ove Arup to identify those economic sectors for which
the greatest impacts will be felt to help raise-awareness and
accelerate adaptation activity in the region.
The report - 'Impacts and Responses for Key Business Sectors and Public Services in the Northwest of England' - identifies that the impacts of climate change are a real issue for the Northwest of England. Impacts will affect a considerable range of business sectors and public service activities including, the region's transport infrastructure, reliability of public service delivery, food and materials supply chains, building maintenance, staff welfare, and health and wellbeing.
The sectors identified as having the highest exposure to climate change impacts are the marine and logistics sector, visitor economy, construction industry, food and drink, and retailing.
The cumulative effects of change will mean that, without early action on adaptation, businesses and public services could be left with more challenging and costly issues to resolve compared to taking action now.
'Impacts and Responses for Key Business Sectors and Public Services in the Northwest of England' can be downloaded here - ARUP Key Sectors [Note revised version uploaded on 1st July 2009]
Specialised Briefing Packs have also been produced highlighting the key findings of the study by sector;
Economic Impacts of Increased Flood Risk Associated with Climate Change in the Northwest
In addition, the Northwest Climate Change Partnership have also commissioned a study by URS Corporation to identify the economic impacts of flood risk associated with climate change in the Northwest.
The report identifies the growing cost of flood risk to Northwest businesses and highlights the key sectors at risk, including Advanced Engineering & Materials, Retail & Wholesale, the Public Sector, and Food & Drink.
'The Economic Impacts of Flood Risk Associated with Climate Change in the Northwest' can be downloaded here: URS Economic Impact of Flood Risk Report.
Vulnerability of the Northwest's Natural Environment to Climate Change
Natural England have carried out a series of bespoke assessments of the whole Northwest and selected National Character Areas. Click here to download the assessments.
Cumbrian High Fells Report
Natural England have published the Climate Change Character Area reports on four treasured, and very different, English landscapes including the high fells of the Lake District.
These reports form part of a wider project aiming to help identify local management responses that will better enable the natural environment, and our enjoyment of it, to adapt to changing climate conditions.
The key findings of the report include:
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England's peat soils store around 300 million tonnes of carbon and, like many upland areas, the Cumbria High Fells need to be specifically managed as a future carbon store. Significant amounts of carbon will be emitted if the drier summers and heavier rain expected from climate change are allowed to dry out or erode peat supplies. Improving the condition of all existing upland habitats and water resources is a priority, particularly high carbon ones like blanket bog.
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Many species in the area are likely to expand their range - the ruddy darter and thehairy dragonfly have been present in Cumbria since 2001 and the heath fritillary butterfly may colonise the area. Garlic mustard and cow parsley will benefit from a warmer environment, although others species will decline, such as the stiff sedge plant, the ice age relic fish the arctic char, and the mountain ringlet butterfly, which faces local extinction.
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More extreme cycles of wetting and drying may also affect the foundations of walls and historic buildings, iconic features of this region.
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Summer drought could lead to a decrease in the water available for recreation. A decline in water quality, due to reduced dilution of pollutants, and an increase in algal blooms may also affect the recreational potential of the lakes during summer.
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While broad habitat types may persist, such as heathland and lakes, the characteristic species that make up these habitats may be different, subtly altering the appearance of the Lakeland landscape.
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The montane habitats of the Cumbria High Fells are particularly susceptible to the impacts of climate change, in particular increases in temperature.
The full reports and a summary for each pilot area is available along with a Summary of all projects - Click here
If you would like further information on the project please contact Ian Crosher on 0300 060 0211
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