IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE DISTRICT
The South East of England is likely to experience the greatest changes in its climate compared to the rest of the UK.
The United Kingdom Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP) predicts that the South East will experience hotter drier summers, warmer wetter winters, higher sea levels, and an increase in extreme events such as heatwaves, droughts and flooding.
Some actions can be taken now to prepare for future climate conditions. Preparing for more instances of flooding is one example. An increase in high intensity rainfall events is likely. This can give more instances of flash flooding, as well as flooding from streams and rivers. Businesses and households will need to be more prepared for such events.
Another example is where new buildings are sited and how they are designed. Buildings need to be located away from areas that will be more prone to flooding. They need to be designed to withstand higher wind speeds and increased risk of subsidence and to provide more comfortable conditions for users as summers become hotter.
Adaptation is the aspect of climate change that is often overlooked. However, changes to the climate in the coming decades will affect everyone.