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Rising to the Challenge of Climate Change in the South East. Local Presenter & Organisation. Partner’s Logo. Outline. What is climate change? How will the South East be affected? What is the South East Climate Change Partnership? How is [local organisation] involved?
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Rising to the Challenge of Climate Change in the South East Local Presenter & Organisation Partner’s Logo
Outline • What is climate change? • How will the South East be affected? • What is the South East Climate Change Partnership? • How is [local organisation] involved? • How do I find out more?
What is climate change? • Who to believe? • Is it happening? • Isn’t it ‘natural’? • Can it be stopped?
Climate change: who to believe? • Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) • US Environmental Protection Agency • US National Academy of Sciences • Kyoto Protocol signatories
Climate change: is it happening? Source: Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research (Met Office)
Climate change: is it happening? Increase in global surface temperature over the past 1000 years – and projections for this century. Source: IPCC
Climate change: isn’t it natural? • Climate has always changed – and always will. Natural factors include: • Changes in the Sun’s energy output • Changes in the Earth’s tilt & orbit • The effects of volcanoes • But global climate also responds to changes in greenhouse gases: • Carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, nitrous oxide, CFCs, water vapour…
Climate change: isn’t it natural? • CO2 levels have risen by 31% in 250 years: • Pre-industrial = 280ppm • End of 20th century = 368ppm • CO2 levels could more than double again by the 2080s • Global climate takes time to respond to increasing GHG levels • Changes we have seen so far have been a combination of natural and human factors
Climate change: isn’t it natural? How “Natural”, “Man-made” & “Mixed” models compare with observations of rising temperature. Source: IPCC
Climate change: can it be stopped? • Emissions of GHGs now will affect climate from the 2050s onwards • But we are already ‘locked in’ to climate change from past emissions • Some change is inevitable!
How will the SE be affected? • How will our climate change? • What are the challenges?
How will the SE climate change? • New climate change scenarios were produced for the UK in April 2002 • Changes in 26 variables • e.g. temperature & rainfall etc • 3 Timescales • ‘2020s’, ‘2050s’ & ‘2080s’ • Most changes will be more extreme in the South East than elsewhere
How will the SE climate change? • Changes will include Temperature & Rainfall - plus: • Soil moisture • Humidity • Cloud cover • Solar energy reaching ground level (UV) • Sea level • Extreme events: • Storms • Flooding • Droughts
How will the SE climate change? Change in UK Summer Temperatures for the 2080s (Medium-High Scenario) Source: UKCIP
What are the challenges? • Some further climate change is inevitable • Delayed climate response to GHGs • Climate change will mean adapting the way we plan and manage: • Our countryside • Our built environment & heritage • Our water resources • Our floodplains • Our coastal defences • Our businesses
John Craven – SECCP President “Combating the future effects of climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing the world today, especially in low-lying densely-populated areas such as the South East of England. We must be prepared.”
Adaptive planning • Integrated approach to decisions • Climate change will continue • It will impact on the South East • We need to: • Reduce risks • Take opportunities • Avoid increasing future causes of change • Make use of best current understanding • Involve stakeholders
South East Climate Change Partnership • A partnership of public, private & voluntary sectors created to: • Investigate, inform and advise on the threats & opportunities from the impacts of climate change in South East England • Promote adaptive planning in the region.
SE Climate Change Partnership • Partners include: • Public sector • Local & regional Government • National agencies • Private sector • Water companies • Environmental technology & consultancy • Voluntary sector • Wildlife charities • Heritage charities
The response… • The partnership approach & regional coverage help us, by • Demonstrating credibility in addressing the issues • Building confidence in developing our responses • Acting as a catalyst in bringing together sources of solutions
SECCP activities • Key sectors: • Agriculture • Biodiversity • Business community • Emergency planning • Planning • Tourism • Utilities & infrastructure
SECCP activities • Annual forum • Members’ AGM & stakeholders conference • Website: • Decision makers & public • Quarterly bulletin • Members & stakeholders • Training & Workshops • Skills & experience • Projects • Research & demonstration
For further information • XXXX: • Contact name • Email • Phone number • SECCP: • Mark Goldthorpe, Programme Manager • Email: info@climatesoutheast.org.uk • Tel: 020 8541 7972