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FRIGHTENING PREDICTIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND FLOODING

Recently, the world’s leading scientists at IPCC (The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) issued a special report warning that we have only 12 years to limit climate change to 1.5C or there will be a significantly increased risk of drought, floods, extreme heat and poverty for millions of people.

 sandbags in flood

The IPCC report also made it clear that climate change is already happening with evidence including hurricanes in the US, record droughts in Cape Town and forest fires in the Artic. The report predicts that a rise in global mean surface temperature above 1.5C more than pre-industrial levels would cause a range impacts including an increase in risk of river flooding from moderate to high.

These predictions of the impact that climate change will have are not a big surprise. I hope that these reports, and their backing by leading world scientists, will help to drive a greater focus and legislative change for urban planning with a greater use of SuDS to build cities that will be more resilient for the future.
Martin Lambley , Product Manager for Stormwater Management, Wavin

Recent research by Newcastle University also points to a frightening prediction on how climate change will affect flooding in European cities. The landmark study analysed changes in flooding, droughts and heatwaves for all UK cities using all climate models. The report predicted an increase in river flooding particularly in north-western European cities with the British Isles have some of the worst overall flood projections. Cork, Derry, Waterford, Wrexham, Carlisle, Glasgow, Chester and Aberdeen were highlighted as being likely to be the worst hit cities in the British Isles for river flooding. Even in the best case scenario, 85% of UK cities with a river including London are predicted to face increased river flooding.

The research highlights the urgent need to design and adapt our cities to cope with these future conditions
Professor Richard Dawson , Co-author and lead investigator of the study by Newcastle University

You can read the full report here

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