The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has echoed concerns raised by the Climate Change Committee (CCC) which says the \u201cBritish way of life under threat from heat, flooding and drought\u201d.<\/p>\n
The ICE statement was released following the publication of the Climate Change Committee\u2019s report A Well-Adapted UK, today (20 May.)<\/p>\n
The country\u2019s independent climate advisors identify better cooling, flood protection and a more secure water supply as the most critical priorities to protect the UK from the three biggest climate risks \u2013 heat, flooding and drought.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are already seeing disruption today and without action these risks will escalate, said a CCC statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy 2050, 92% of homes are likely to overheat, peak river flows will be up to 45% higher and water supply shortfalls could exceed five billion litres per day.\u201d<\/p>\n
The report said the cost\u202fof climate\u202fchange\u202fto public welfare\u202fis\u00a0predicted\u00a0to\u00a0rise\u00a0to between 1-5%\u202fof\u202fUK\u202fGDP\u202fby\u202f2050\u202funder\u202fa\u202f2\u00b0C\u202fglobal\u202fwarming\u202flevel,\u00a0equivalent to\u00a0\u00a360-\u00a3260bn\u00a0per year.<\/p>\n
\u201cClimate change is undermining the UK\u2019s security and prosperity. We are already experiencing serious impacts now, and further impacts are inevitable,\u201d said the report.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy the middle of the century, the UK\u2019s climate will be much more extreme than today. Hotter heatwaves could see 92% of existing homes overheat, creating dangerous conditions for vulnerable people.\u201d<\/p>\n
It continued: \u201cPeak river flows will be up to 45% higher, last longer, and be seen more frequently, driving increased flooding.<\/p>\n
\u201cDrier summers will mean shortfalls in water supply could reach over five billion litres per day, making drought more widespread. Without global emissions reductions, these risks may go past the point where the UK can protect itself with adaptation measures.\u201d<\/p>\n
The report also calls on the government to adapt the UK\u2019s infrastructure \u201cto avoid cascading disruption\u201d and to \u201cdesign and maintain transport, energy and telecommunications systems to operate safely under future climate conditions\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cGovernment\u00a0and regulators\u00a0must take a more structured approach to managing dependencies between infrastructure systems to avoid widespread disruption,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n
ICE director of policy and external affairs Sam Gould said: \u201cToday\u2019s report reiterates what we already know.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur climate is changing and we\u2019re not adapting quickly enough. The CCC is right to say we are in a \u2018critical window\u2019 for water, energy and transport. The investment happening now must translate into well-adapted infrastructure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gould added: \u201cTo help decision makers prioritise what needs to be done, and to help guide investors, the ICE has previously recommended that the UK Government undertake a review of the economics of adaptation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis would help put clearer figures on associated costs and contribute to the more structured approach the CCC is calling for.\u201d<\/p>\n