Environment Agency warns climate change will cause more floods and droughts and England must become resilient Climate News

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The Environment Agency has warned that climate change will cause more floods, droughts, rising sea levels and increasing demand for water supplies.

Ahead of the UN’s COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, the government agency warns that resilience in the face of the inevitable effects of climate change is just as important as actions to reduce greenhouse emissions.

It’s a case of “adapt or die,” said Emma Howard Boyd, the agency’s head, adding that deadly events such as floods in Germany this summer would hit England if the country did not become more resilient to the harsh weather. had brought.

In a government report, the Environment Agency said climate change will exacerbate pressure on England’s water environment, which is suffering from pollution and increased demand.

The report said the agency alone could not protect people from the increased risk of flooding, and added that traditional flood defenses would not be able to prevent extreme weather events.

The Environment Agency said there will be more and worse accidents from flooding, water shortages and pollution, regulation is ill-equipped for climate change, and the natural world cannot adapt as quickly as the climate is changing.

Population growth and climate change will increase the demand for water supply, and if no further action is taken between 2025 and 2050, more than 3.4 billion liters of additional water will be required per day.

Hotter and drier summers, rising sea levels and pressures from development are adding to water supply problems, the report said.

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Boris Johnson gave a speech at the “Youth Cop” event in Milan and insisted that COP26 could be the beginning of the end for climate change.

With a global warming of 2°C – below the level of warming the world is currently going through – winter precipitation in England will increase by about 6%, but summer precipitation will decrease by 50% by the 1950s.

The Environment Agency said it is working with the government, businesses and communities on flood protection and with the watchdog organization Offatt on the water supply.

She is also focusing on restoring and creating peatlands, wetlands and other habitats to create resilient habitats for wildlife to reduce flood risk, improve water quality and enhance access to green spaces for people, she said.

Ms Howard Boyd said: “The climate crisis is global, but its effects are in your village, your shop and your home.

“Adaptation actions need to be an integral part of government, businesses and societies as well, and people will soon be wondering why this isn’t happening — especially when investing early in climate resilience is much cheaper than bearing the costs of inaction.

“While mitigation may save the planet, it is adaptation and preparedness for climate shocks that will save millions of lives.

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“Choosing one over the other on the basis of either/or simple arithmetic is like telling a bird that it only needs one wing to fly.”

She added that despite the government’s focus on adaptation at COP 26, the issue was at risk of being “significantly immature” at the summit.

“It’s adapt or die,” she said. “With the right approach, we can be safer and more prosperous. So let’s prepare, act and live.”

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