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| UK storms: Hammond says climate change 'clearly a factor' | UK storms: Hammond says climate change 'clearly a factor' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Climate change is "clearly a factor" in the period of stormy weather the UK has been experiencing, the defence secretary has said. | Climate change is "clearly a factor" in the period of stormy weather the UK has been experiencing, the defence secretary has said. |
| Philip Hammond told the Andrew Marr Show the storms and flooding had caused "quite serious damage" to the country's infrastructure. | Philip Hammond told the Andrew Marr Show the storms and flooding had caused "quite serious damage" to the country's infrastructure. |
| Earlier, Labour leader Ed Miliband told the Observer global climate change was now an issue of national security. | Earlier, Labour leader Ed Miliband told the Observer global climate change was now an issue of national security. |
| Their comments come as more flooding is expected in many parts of the country. | |
| Despite a let-up in the stormy weather, there are 14 severe flood warnings - indicating a "danger to life" - for south-east England close to the River Thames and two for the Somerset Levels, which have experienced weeks of flooding. | Despite a let-up in the stormy weather, there are 14 severe flood warnings - indicating a "danger to life" - for south-east England close to the River Thames and two for the Somerset Levels, which have experienced weeks of flooding. |
| As well as the impact to the transport network, about one million properties had their power cut off in the last week and 15,978 in southern England and Wales are still without power, according to the Energy Networks Association. | As well as the impact to the transport network, about one million properties had their power cut off in the last week and 15,978 in southern England and Wales are still without power, according to the Energy Networks Association. |
| 'Science is clear' | 'Science is clear' |
| Some Conservative MPs and peers have challenged the argument that the recent storms were connected to global temperature changes. | Some Conservative MPs and peers have challenged the argument that the recent storms were connected to global temperature changes. |
| Former Conservative chancellor Lord Lawson, who is among the most prominent climate change sceptics, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Thursday it was "not the case" that the storms were due to global warming. | |
| However, Mr Miliband said that a failure to recognise that climate change was causing the storms and floods meant the country was sleepwalking towards a crisis. | However, Mr Miliband said that a failure to recognise that climate change was causing the storms and floods meant the country was sleepwalking towards a crisis. |
| He said: "We have always warned that climate change threatens national security because of the consequences for destabilisation of entire regions of the world, mass migration of millions of people and conflict over water or food supplies. | He said: "We have always warned that climate change threatens national security because of the consequences for destabilisation of entire regions of the world, mass migration of millions of people and conflict over water or food supplies. |
| "But the events of the last few weeks have shown this is a national security issue in our own country too, with people's homes, businesses and livelihoods come under attack from extreme weather. | "But the events of the last few weeks have shown this is a national security issue in our own country too, with people's homes, businesses and livelihoods come under attack from extreme weather. |
| "And we know this will happen more in the future. The science is clear. The public know there is a problem. | "And we know this will happen more in the future. The science is clear. The public know there is a problem. |
| "But because of political division in Westminster we are sleepwalking into a national security crisis on climate change. | "But because of political division in Westminster we are sleepwalking into a national security crisis on climate change. |
| "The terrible events of the last few weeks should serve as a wake-up call for us all." | "The terrible events of the last few weeks should serve as a wake-up call for us all." |
| Mr Hammond said: "Climate change is clearly happening; it is clearly a factor in the weather patterns that we are seeing. | Mr Hammond said: "Climate change is clearly happening; it is clearly a factor in the weather patterns that we are seeing. |
| "That's why we are investing significant amounts of money in increasing our flood resilience in the UK." | |
| He said although the floods were "a terrible tragedy" for those affected, "hundreds of thousands of properties" had been protected from flooding "by the investment we've made over recent years". | |
| The US Secretary of State John Kerry has urged the global community to act against climate change, saying "the window of time" is closing to prevent the worst consequences. | |
| His comments coincide with the release of new research, which suggests the main system that helps determine the weather over northern Europe and North America may be changing. | His comments coincide with the release of new research, which suggests the main system that helps determine the weather over northern Europe and North America may be changing. |
| The study, presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Chicago, showed the so-called jet stream has increasingly taken a longer, meandering path resulting in weather remaining the same for more prolonged periods. | The study, presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Chicago, showed the so-called jet stream has increasingly taken a longer, meandering path resulting in weather remaining the same for more prolonged periods. |
| Last week, the Met Office's chief scientist Dame Julia Slingo said there was "no definitive answer" as to what had caused the period of stormy weather in the UK but that "all the evidence suggests there is a link to climate change". | Last week, the Met Office's chief scientist Dame Julia Slingo said there was "no definitive answer" as to what had caused the period of stormy weather in the UK but that "all the evidence suggests there is a link to climate change". |
| 'Some comfort' | |
| Labour has called for more action to tackle climate change including a cross-party agreement for a 2030 decarbonisation target, and greater efforts to reach international agreements on cutting greenhouse gas emissions. | Labour has called for more action to tackle climate change including a cross-party agreement for a 2030 decarbonisation target, and greater efforts to reach international agreements on cutting greenhouse gas emissions. |
| It said the independent Committee for Climate Change - which advises the government on emissions targets and climate change - should do a full assessment of the policy response to extreme weather conditions caused by climate change and preparedness for future floods. | It said the independent Committee for Climate Change - which advises the government on emissions targets and climate change - should do a full assessment of the policy response to extreme weather conditions caused by climate change and preparedness for future floods. |
| And it said a greater priority should be given to flood defence and protection. | And it said a greater priority should be given to flood defence and protection. |
| The committee itself said that while an extra £130m pledged by the government would bring some comfort to flooded communities, it would not address the rising long-term flood risk. | The committee itself said that while an extra £130m pledged by the government would bring some comfort to flooded communities, it would not address the rising long-term flood risk. |
| It said ministers needed to increase significantly the amount they planned to spend on flood and coastal defences if it was to make up a projected shortfall. | It said ministers needed to increase significantly the amount they planned to spend on flood and coastal defences if it was to make up a projected shortfall. |
| In its latest blog, the committee said the new money would primarily be spent on repairing and reinstating defences that had been damaged in the recent storms, and so help recover existing levels of protection. | |
| But it added: "So the additional funding won't materially address the rising long-term flood risk given the latest assessment of the investment need." | |
| By 2015, it said, "we are on course to spend half a billion pounds less on flood and coastal defence over this Parliament than the amount needed to avoid more homes becoming at significant risk over time. This remains the case". | |
| Live flood warnings from the Environment Agency | Live flood warnings from the Environment Agency |