CoastView: Climate change - the papers

Coastal towns in peril from the sea

The Argus on 25 Novemeber 1999

LARGE parts of the Sussex coast could be deluged by storms and flooding because of the effects of global warming. A new report warns millions of pounds wiIl have to be spent improving sea defences at the areas most under threat. They include Lancing, Shoreham and Pevensey. The report from the UK Climate Impacts Programme says Sussex faces one of the biggest threats from storm surges and rising sea levels It examines the effect of climate change on Britain over the next 50 years and says coastal defences will be regularly breached and droughts could reduce rivers to shallow streams.
It says drinking water quality will deteriorate while severe storms and coastal erosion will cause major damage to rare wildlife habitats. The report, produced by consultants W.S. Atkins, the Met Office and the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service, estimates that sea levels will rise by at least 34cm and possibly 50cm by 2050.
Dr Melywyn McKenzie-Hedger, KCIP co-ordinator, said: "Lives and property will be at risk unless there is a strong presumption against development in flood risk areas. A new planning agenda is currently required to prepare the region for the challenges faced from a changing climate. Doing nothing is not an option."
The Environment Agency says it already spends £25 million a year on flood defences and will have to have more money from the Government. Joy Hartley, chairman of Lancing Parish Council, said: "We are very concerned. This, will require large-scale solutions."

Warm and wet: south-east faces flooding in 50 years

The Guardian on 25 Novemeber 1999

by Paul Brown Environment Correspondent
The Isle of Thanet will again be cut off from mainland Kent and the south-eastern towns of Chichester, Shoreham, Rye and Whitstable will be under water within 50 years unless sea defences are built substantially higher, says a report out today.
The impact of sea level rise of 54 cms (20 ins) in the southeast makes large low lying areas of north Kent and Pevensey Bay, including Dungeness nuclear power station, vulnerable to the severe storms expected due to global warming. The UK climate impacts programme, sponsored by the government, says the Solent is likely to be badly affected and many well-known natural features could be washed away. Local councils, the National Trust, Thames Water and environment organisations are launching the report today to warn some of the most affluent areas of the south-east to prepare for the changes in the next 50 years. Summer will bring more sunshine, there will be water shortages and gardens will dry out. Water companies will want to capture the extra 20% winter rain in new reservoirs to prepare for summer shortages. Snow and frost will be rare as temperatures rise. Ingo Wilson, for the environment agency, said sea and river defences would be overtopped unless made higher. "We might have to consider retreating before the sea in some places. It is time we started thinking about what to do, that is what the report is saying." Supplying water to an increasing population is a key area of concern. In some areas, stretched supplies could not cope with extra development. The increased chances of flooding from nearly 2,000 miles of rivers in the region also puts many potential development areas out of bounds, the report says. Melvyn McKenzie-Hedger, coordinator of the project, said that lives and property would be at risk unless there was a "strong presumption" against development in these areas. "The south-east is currently under pressure from many quarters and climate change is going to make things worse. We need to face these challenges. Doing nothing is not an option."
Rob Jarman, environmental practices officer for the National Trust, said its properties were going to badly affected. "One of the biggest issues is coastal change. It creates new risks to life, livelihoods and property and leads to demand for tougher sea defences." Ute Collier, head of World Wide Fund for Nature's climate change programme said Surrey is the most heavily wooded county in England but trees would suffer under the drier summer conditions. The south-east's internationally important lowland heath habitats are also likely to suffer by the invasion of bracken and exotic conifers. Dr Collier said "There is a very real risk of some of the fragile habitats of the south-east being lost."