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Adapting to the Climate Change Challenge

Two key new studies, looking at how local communities might be affected by, and need to cope with climate change, are being launched in the region today (Fri 13 March).

Environment Minister Hilary Benn will be the keynote speaker when the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Change Adaptation Study and the revised Climate Change Plan for Yorkshire and Humber are unveiled.

The Adaptation Study is the culmination of almost a year’s work assessing the likely problems caused by climate change, and identifying both what can be done to adapt the region’s infrastructure and services to deal with the problems and which organisations are best placed to take the lead on delivering the work. Originally started a year after the 2007 floods which devastated parts of Yorkshire and Humber, the study also provides each local authority 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.

The Climate Change Plan for Yorkshire and Humber is aimed at regional and local leaders, and for decision makers in all sectors. It provides principles that will help the region adapt to climate change and reduce our contribution to its causes. It also provides a framework for action that will influence other plans in the region such as local Sustainable Community Strategies and the single Integrated Regional Strategy. The Plan focuses on areas where discussions with regional and local stakeholders suggest that current work and programmes on their own will not deliver the outcomes and joint action will be required. The plan will not remain static. It will be responsive to the needs of the region, ensure we are better prepared for extreme weather, take advantage of opportunities and will support new legislation.

Following the 2007 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 in South Yorkshire being closed for 40 hours.

The Pitt 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.

More than 100 key local government and other regional stakeholders will attend the launch at the Royal York Hotel at an event which will also include a question and answer session with experts from local government, the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Forward and the Regional Flood Defence Committee.

Arthur Barker, Chair of Local Government Yorkshire and Humber and the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly’s Sustainable Development Board, said both pieces of work were important steps 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, adapt and rise to the challenges of climate change,’’ he added.

“This work details practical steps that can be taken at a local level to anticipate the changes and reduce the risks of climate change.”

The event at the Royal York Hotel, next to York Railway Station, runs from 10am to 12-30pm, with the keynote speech being followed by presentations and the Q&A session.

You can download the full press release below. This contains more information about the individual studies.

Regional Adaptation Study and Climate Change Plan launch

Regional Adaptation Study and Climate Change Plan launch - 13 March 2009