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Britain advised needs to prepare more for climate change

by Reuters
Tuesday, 12 July 2016 00:15 GMT

A woman casts her shadow near a pair of flip-flops printed with the Union flag on an urban beach during a heat wave in Nottingham, central England, July 19, 2013. REUTERS/Darren Staples

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Severe heatwave of 2003 could become norm by 2040s, along with increased flooding and water shortages

By Nina Chestney

LONDON, July 12 (Reuters) - Britain needs to do more to prepare for climate change as the severe heatwave of 2003 could become the norm by the 2040s, along with increased flooding and water shortages, the government's climate advisors said on Tuesday.

The Committee on Climate Change's Adaptation Sub-Committee advises the UK government on climate change risks and opportunities. Its report is a result of three years' work by hundreds of scientists and experts and could form the basis of government climate adaptation policy from 2018.

"New, stronger or different government policies or implementation activities – over and above those already planned – are needed in the next five years to reduce long-term vulnerability to climate change," the report said.

The committee did not evaluate the impacts of Britain leaving the EU in the report due to the lack of clarity over future legislation and funding.
Britain has had 10 of the warmest years on record since 1990; increases in average sea level; more winter rainfall in heavy rainfall events and more severe storms.

In 2003, Europe had its hottest summer since at least the 1500s, leading to health crises, drought and crop shortfalls. Temperatures hit over 38 degrees Celsius in southern England and this could become the norm in a couple of decades.

"The modelling suggests what we now think of an extremely hot summer (temperatures in the high 30s)....is likely to be a typical summer by the 2040s and could be a cool summer but he 2080s," Lord Krebs, chairman of the sub-committee, told reporters in London.

WARMER AND WETTER

Warmer temperatures could also mean the air will hold more moisture, leading to heavier rainfall and more frequent flooding. This will not only test the resilience of buildings but also energy, transport and communication systems.

More severe and prolonged droughts will lead to shortages in public water supply and for agriculture, energy generation and industry, the report said.

Around 85 percent of fertile peat top soil has already been lost in East Anglia and the remaining 15 percent could go within 30-60 years, which would represent "a major national food production challenge," Krebs said.

The viability of UK food production will also be vulnerable to climate change elsewhere in the world, as extreme weather events disrupt international production and supply chains. Food prices are likely to be volatile with spikes.

Warmer and wetter weather could also allow bring risks from new and emerging pests and diseases which will affect people, plants and animals, the report said.

There could also be some opportunities from climate change as milder winters should reduce the cost of heating buildings.

UK agriculture might be able to increase production of some crops such as tomatoes, olives, grapes and soft fruits, due to warmer weather and longer growing seasons. However, this would depend on the availability of fertile soils and water for irrigation, the report added.

• Full report: www.theccc.org.uk/UK-climate-change-risk-asssessment-2017

• Map of risks, opportunities: http://tmsnrt.rs/29szvNQ

(Editing by William Hardy)

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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