Adapting to the Climate Change Challenge

A pioneering new study, looking at how local communities might be affected by, and need to cope with climate change, has been launched in the region.

The Yorkshire and Humber Climate Change Adaptation Study will assess the likely problems caused by climate change, and identify both what can be done to adapt the region’s infrastructure to deal with the problems and which organisations are best placed to take the lead on delivering the work.

The study will also provide local authorities in the region with a framework to highlight key vulnerabilities such as cost, urgency and constraints, which need to be addressed to help implement adaptation in individual areas.

Jointly led by the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly, Yorkshire Forward, Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber, the Environment Agnecy, Yorkshire Futures, Natural England, and the UK Climate Impacts Programme, work on the study co-incides with the recently published Pitt Review into the 2007 floods which devastated the region.

The Review recommended that the Government should give priority to both adaptation and mitigation in its programmes to help cope with future extremes of weather such as winds and gales, blizzards and ice, increased flooding and heat waves which are caused by climate change.

Following last year’s floods, in this region alone:

• In Hull 8,600 homes (20,000 people) and 1,300 businesses were flooded;
• In Sheffield the Neepsend electricity substation was shut down with loss of power to 40,000 people;
• More than 1,000 people were evacuated from villages near Ulley reservoir dam following structural damage - this also led to the M1 being closed for 40 hours.

The study is being undertaken by internationally renowned consultants Royal Haskoning, who have recently overseen the North East England Climate Change Adaptation Study, focussing on potential impacts of climate change in that region.The findings of the study will be reported in February 2009.

Councillor Arthur Barker, Chair of both the Assembly’s Sustainable Development Board and the Study Steering Group said: "The work is an important step in ensuring the region is ready and able to cope with climate change in the future.

“We need to be clear on the changes that are likely in the years ahead, which areas will be most affected and what we need to do now to prepare and adapt. This study will detail practical steps that can be taken at a local level to anticipate the changes and reduce the risks of climate change.”

For more details on the study contact: Martyn Roberts on 01924 331577; email martyn.roberts@yhassembly.gov.uk or Ruth Hardingham on 01924 331593; email ruth.hardingham@yhassembly.gov.uk.

The brief for the study, a detailed work plan and a summary leaflet are available from this website.