1 / 23

UK Climate Projections 2009 Regional Data – West Midlands

UK Climate Projections 2009 Regional Data – West Midlands. Contents. Contents. UK Climate projections 09 help us understand possible impacts in the UK and the need to reduce our emissions.

eitan
Download Presentation

UK Climate Projections 2009 Regional Data – West Midlands

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. UK Climate Projections 2009 Regional Data – West Midlands

  2. Contents

  3. Contents

  4. UK Climate projections 09 help us understand possible impacts in the UK and the need to reduce our emissions • These projections of our future climate have been developed by Met Office paid for by Defra (also on behalf of Scotland, Wales and NI) • They show us the reality of climate change and help us understand both the importance of the need to reduce our emissions and adapt to inevitable changes. • A great deal of information is available including pre-prepared maps and graphs, which are available online to anyone • A report ‘Adapting to Climate change: UK Climate Projections’ setting out what the Government is doing on adaptation will be available, plus further reports on the science underpinning the projections by UKCIP 4

  5. How to access the projections ? • Further information can be found on the Defra website at: www.defra.gov.uk/adaptation • For detailed access to the UKCP User Interface http://ukclimateprojections.defra.gov.uk 5

  6. Contents

  7. Contents

  8. For summeraverage temperature, we see significant increases over the decades to the 2080s Increased Tourism Increased Heat stress Infrastructure risks Risks to biodiversity Heat related deaths Risk to Food Security But the temperature on the hottest day of the year could increase by up to 10ºC West Midlands central estimate Medium emissions The change for the 2080s is very unlikely to be less than 2ºC and very unlikely to be more than 6.1ºC

  9. For rainfall we could see significant summer decreases Reduced stream flow and water quality Increased drought Subsidence Decreased crop yields Serious water stress West Midlands central estimate Medium emissions For the 2080s the change is very unlikely to be lower than -43% and very unlikely to be higher than +6%

  10. For rainfall we see significant winter increases Increased winter flooding Increased subsidence Risks to urban drainage Severe Transport disruption Risks of national Infrastructure But rainfall on the wettest day of the year could increase by up to 30% West Midlands central estimate Medium Emissions For the 2080s the change is very unlikely to be lower than +3% and very unlikely to be higher than +39%

  11. Contents

  12. Regional Key Messages In the West Midlands we have already started to prepare for the potential impact of a changing climate, regional partners are working together to deliver the 6 regional priorities identified in the West Midlands Climate Change Action Plan. This includes work on a three year programme to influence building design and developing regionally appropriate adaptation indicators. As part of the Local Area Agreements each local authority has begun to consider the impact on their operations and will be taking action to ensure they are more resilient to extreme weather. This includes looking at the management of surface water and drainage systems as part of a programme to improve flood management in urban areas.

  13. Regional Key Messages continued A regional Climate Change Co-ordinator is working with Advantage West Midlands to develop an adaptation programme for the region’s businesses. This will improve awareness of the potential risks and opportunities of a changing climate and help to inform decisions on future planning and managing business continuity.

  14. Contents

  15. Facts and figures The W Midlands landscape is one of enormous contrast with major industrial conurbations surrounded by vast areas of open countryside. The region contains a wide variety of wildlife and landscapes with habitats including woodlands and forest, the upland grassland and heath lands of the north and west, the built up areas, gardens and open spaces of the major urban areas and the broad river valleys of the south east. Over 70 percent of land used in the region is agricultural. The region is at the centre of the national rail and road network, and disruption due to adverse weather can have major impacts for other parts of the country. The West Midlands is already one of the driest regions in the country, with a high population density and therefore a limited amount of water available per person.

  16. What are the key impacts in the West Midlands? Built Infrastructure – heat stress - may be an issue in major urban centres such as Birmingham, due to the urban heat island effect Natural Environment & Biodiversity - habitats and species could be adversely affected. This effect could be exacerbated by the fragmented nature of habitats in the region Water availability - Currently the uses for abstraction and the environment have just enough water in the summer. Flooding - Urban drainage systems such as those in Birmingham might not be able to cope with the projected increase in winter precipitation intensity and become overloaded. Agriculture - general impact on crops across the region. Infrastructure – Roads and railways have been affected in previous floods

  17. Contents

  18. What actions are taking place in the West Midlands to adapt to climate change? The West Midlands Climate Change Action Plan was launched in December 2007 and sets out the actions that regional organisations can and should take over the next three years to move towards a position where all regional policy addresses the causes and impacts of climate change as a central objective. To focus specifically on the challenge of climate change we have established a Climate Change Adaptation Group to identify the key impacts for the West Midlands and develop a plan of work to develop a strategic response. This work includes managing a series of projects that will improve the capability of the West Midlands to adapt to a changing climate.

  19. Local Authorities • 4 of the regions 14 local authorities have adopted NI 188 (adapting to climate change) as a priority indicator in their Local Area Agreements – Solihull, Walsall, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. • All other authorities are also considering the impact of climate change in their areas including preparing local climate impact assessments to consider the potential impact on services and infrastructure. • Some areas have taken action to adapt to potential climate changes including the production of Local Climate Impacts profiles, flood risk assessments  and innovative building design  e.g. in Worcester.

  20. Contents

  21. Case Study: built environment, Redhill School • The redevelopment of Redhill School, Worcestershire is one of the first in England to have a climate change impact assessment carried out from the start of the design process. The £2.7 million project involves a replacement primary school on the site of the former 1960s building. • Outcomes: • a sustainable urban drainage system using swales, ponds and underground storage box • A rainwater harvesting scheme used for flushing toilets, takes rain from half the roof area • Other roof areas are planted to reduce run off • Shade is provided Aim: To provide a low carbon building that is able to maintain a comfortable and robust teaching environment over its lifetime.

  22. Be Birmingham – Local Strategic Partnership Climate Change Strategy Aim: • To adapt the City of Birmingham to climate change impacts through resilience and planning Outcomes: • Risk assessments of social services most exposed to impacts of climate change • Guidelines for businesses to incorporate climate change adaptation techniques into normal business management • Development of business opportunities around mitigation and adaptation technologies

  23. Q & A Q. How is climate change likely to affect the West Midlands? A. The latest predictions suggest that we could see significant changes in average temperatures, and levels of rainfall. This could mean less rainfall in the summer and more rainfall in the winter. The value of the latest projections is that they help us to assess the potential impacts so that we can consider where and how we need to respond Q. What is being done to prepare for climate change in the West Midlands? A. We have already started to prepare for the potential impact of a changing climate, regional partners are working together to deliver the 6 regional priorities that have been identified in the West Midlands Climate Change Action Plan. We have also established a Climate Change Adaptation Group to identify the key impacts for the West Midlands and develop a plan of work to develop a strategic response. Q What is being done to ensure the local economy is resilient to climate change? A.A Regional Climate Change Co-ordinator is working with Advantage West Midlands to develop an adaptation programme for the region’s businesses. We have also identified key sectors at risk from climate impacts from the West Midlands Economic Strategy evidence base, and have used this to inform the development of a low carbon business support programme.

More Related