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| Climate change is a 'big business opportunity for the UK' | Climate change is a 'big business opportunity for the UK' |
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| Climate change is a big business opportunity for the UK as it and countries around the world are increasingly hit by extreme weather, according to a government report published on Monday. The UK's first national adaptation plan sets out the risks to the UK, from floods to water shortages to higher food prices, as well as the economic opportunities. | Climate change is a big business opportunity for the UK as it and countries around the world are increasingly hit by extreme weather, according to a government report published on Monday. The UK's first national adaptation plan sets out the risks to the UK, from floods to water shortages to higher food prices, as well as the economic opportunities. |
| "The UK is already one of the global leaders in this industry of the future and this market [for climate adaptation] is expected to grow by 5% or more year on year," said environment secretary Owen Paterson. "As the world's climate changes, Britain's expertise in areas such as weather forecasting, flood modelling, infrastructure and insurance are already coming to the fore to prepare us for the kinds of events we might see more often." The adaptation sector is currently valued at about £66bn a year, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). | "The UK is already one of the global leaders in this industry of the future and this market [for climate adaptation] is expected to grow by 5% or more year on year," said environment secretary Owen Paterson. "As the world's climate changes, Britain's expertise in areas such as weather forecasting, flood modelling, infrastructure and insurance are already coming to the fore to prepare us for the kinds of events we might see more often." The adaptation sector is currently valued at about £66bn a year, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). |
| "Our agriculture continues to innovate, using advanced breeding techniques to produce new crops that can thrive even when the weather seems to be against us. Looking ahead, genetic modification has the potential to make further crop improvements," said Paterson. "Managing our natural resources in innovative ways, is backed by the kind of world class science and engineering skills that we can be proud equip the UK to succeed in the global race." | "Our agriculture continues to innovate, using advanced breeding techniques to produce new crops that can thrive even when the weather seems to be against us. Looking ahead, genetic modification has the potential to make further crop improvements," said Paterson. "Managing our natural resources in innovative ways, is backed by the kind of world class science and engineering skills that we can be proud equip the UK to succeed in the global race." |
| The report cites the example of the 2011 floods that devastated Thailand, which is now developing its flood and water management. "This is a high-value business opportunity (approx £1.9bn)," the report said. "The government promotes and supports UK companies to access these opportunities." | The report cites the example of the 2011 floods that devastated Thailand, which is now developing its flood and water management. "This is a high-value business opportunity (approx £1.9bn)," the report said. "The government promotes and supports UK companies to access these opportunities." |
| However, environmental campaigners criticised ministers. "Only this government could regard the impact of global warming as a business opportunity, with ministers now advising companies on how to turn a profit from something most people regard as a profound threat to our collective well-being," said Jim Footner, head of campaigns at Greenpeace. "The coalition should be creating the conditions that would make British industry a world-leading power in high-tech renewable energy technologies: instead ministers are green-lighting a new fossil fuel era." | |
| The report also list the many risks posed to the UK by climate change and lists scores of planning and development actions that need to be taken to ensure the energy, water, health, travel and business sectors are able to function in the future. The greatest risks identified are from increased flooding and also water shortages, as rainfall is expected to become more intense as the climate warms. | The report also list the many risks posed to the UK by climate change and lists scores of planning and development actions that need to be taken to ensure the energy, water, health, travel and business sectors are able to function in the future. The greatest risks identified are from increased flooding and also water shortages, as rainfall is expected to become more intense as the climate warms. |
| "The cost of expected annual damage to residential properties alone from tidal and river flooding in England and Wales is projected to increase from £640m at present to over £1.1bn by the 2020s," said the report, which also sets out the flood risk to power plants, roads and railways, schools, emergency services and hospitals. | "The cost of expected annual damage to residential properties alone from tidal and river flooding in England and Wales is projected to increase from £640m at present to over £1.1bn by the 2020s," said the report, which also sets out the flood risk to power plants, roads and railways, schools, emergency services and hospitals. |
| The government cut flood defence spending by over 25% year on year in 2010 but has now pledge to restore and increase funding from 2015. Today's report highlights the effect on mental health of floodings, which are frequently both emotionally and financially traumatic. Sewer overflows are also identified as a risk: beaches have already become more polluted after recent wet weather washed more untreated seawage into the sea. | The government cut flood defence spending by over 25% year on year in 2010 but has now pledge to restore and increase funding from 2015. Today's report highlights the effect on mental health of floodings, which are frequently both emotionally and financially traumatic. Sewer overflows are also identified as a risk: beaches have already become more polluted after recent wet weather washed more untreated seawage into the sea. |
| The converse of intensifying rain is periods of drought, and the report states that by the 2050s between 27 million and 59 million people in the UK could be living in areas affected by water shortages. The report emphasises the use of water efficient toilets and taps. | The converse of intensifying rain is periods of drought, and the report states that by the 2050s between 27 million and 59 million people in the UK could be living in areas affected by water shortages. The report emphasises the use of water efficient toilets and taps. |
| The report identifies a wide range of other risks, such as increased food poisoning in warmer weather. It says information is lacking on the impact of more severe and frequent heatwaves on cities and the impact of greater UV sunlight exposure on cancer rates. Another risk is to Wi-Fi internet access and other communications because higher temperatures can reduce the range of wireless communications, rainstorms can impact the reliability of the signal, and drier summers and wetter winters may cause greater subsidence, damaging masts and underground cables. | The report identifies a wide range of other risks, such as increased food poisoning in warmer weather. It says information is lacking on the impact of more severe and frequent heatwaves on cities and the impact of greater UV sunlight exposure on cancer rates. Another risk is to Wi-Fi internet access and other communications because higher temperatures can reduce the range of wireless communications, rainstorms can impact the reliability of the signal, and drier summers and wetter winters may cause greater subsidence, damaging masts and underground cables. |
| The report also looks at the risk to the UK from climate change impacts abroad. It cited PWC research on international threats and opportunities from climate change: "The threats associated with climate change internationally can be an order of magnitude larger than domestic threats, in particular for businesses [with international supply chains] and food imports." | The report also looks at the risk to the UK from climate change impacts abroad. It cited PWC research on international threats and opportunities from climate change: "The threats associated with climate change internationally can be an order of magnitude larger than domestic threats, in particular for businesses [with international supply chains] and food imports." |
| Paterson said: "Even when extreme weather hits abroad we feel the effects at home. For example, harvest failures abroad push up food prices here – a worrying prospect for hard-pressed families." | Paterson said: "Even when extreme weather hits abroad we feel the effects at home. For example, harvest failures abroad push up food prices here – a worrying prospect for hard-pressed families." |
| The report was published on the same day that William Hague's new climate envoy, Rear Admiral Neil Morisetti, said global warming poses as grave a threat to the UK's security and economic resilience as terrorism and cyber-attacks. | The report was published on the same day that William Hague's new climate envoy, Rear Admiral Neil Morisetti, said global warming poses as grave a threat to the UK's security and economic resilience as terrorism and cyber-attacks. |
| Paterson said: "The government cannot act alone. That is why I'm delighted that we have worked so closely with so many experts from outside government – from industry, from local government and from civil society." However, organisations will report their future progress on adaptation only on a voluntary basis. | Paterson said: "The government cannot act alone. That is why I'm delighted that we have worked so closely with so many experts from outside government – from industry, from local government and from civil society." However, organisations will report their future progress on adaptation only on a voluntary basis. |
| Andrew Brown, head of sustainability at Anglian Water said: "The services we provide are vital for people's health and wellbeing as well as a thriving economy. This report is a welcome call to action for everyone in the UK to think about how they can prepare and make sure that we can continue to grow and thrive, whatever the future holds." | Andrew Brown, head of sustainability at Anglian Water said: "The services we provide are vital for people's health and wellbeing as well as a thriving economy. This report is a welcome call to action for everyone in the UK to think about how they can prepare and make sure that we can continue to grow and thrive, whatever the future holds." |
| Guy Shrubsole at Friends of the Earth said: "This programme looks worryingly like the government is washing its hands of taking proper responsibility – lumping cash-strapped councils and individuals with more of the burden instead. The coalition must do more to bail out the water, but it also needs to fix the roof by working harder to prevent climate change in the first place." |