How Will Climate Change Affect Me?
How will climate change affect me?
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), “Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperature, widespread melting of snow and ice and rising global average sea level.” IPCC scientists have found strong evidence that most of the warming observed during the past 50 years is the result of human activities that produce greenhouse gases, such as burning fossil fuels.
The South East – the risks and opportunities
With our eight-million-strong population, the South East has the greatest ecological footprint of all the UK regions. The environmental challenge is twofold: we must reduce the environmental impact of continued high economic growth and the efforts to provide the infrastructure and housing needed to accommodate it. We must also address the particular vulnerability of our region. Coastal areas in the South East are especially susceptible to sea level rise and flooding, while recent summers have already demonstrated the region’s vulnerability to drought and overheating. Climate scientists predict that these impacts will intensify in coming decades.
But what challenges us also constitutes our greatest asset. As a major centre of communications, business, education, and transport, the South East has the potential to lead the country in reducing our environmental impact and improving our resilience to a changing climate. Climate South East aims to be the leading forum in which partners can share knowledge, inspiration, and real solutions to the challenges of climate change.
Our Changing Climate
In the South East of England we expect climate change to lead to hotter drier summers, warmer wetter winters, higher sea levels and an increase in extreme events such as heatwaves, droughts and floods. For instance, the heatwave of 2003 is likely to become the norm by the summers of the 2050s, and to be considered relatively cool by the 2080s.
By the 2050s, it is likely that we will see:
- Average summer temperatures increasing by 2.8 degrees C
- Winter rainfall increase of 16%
- Summer rainfall decrease of 19%
- Up to 76cm sea level rise (by 2095).
- Overall increase in temperature and rainfall variability
- More frequent and extreme summer heatwaves and very wet winters
These figures are based on UKCP09’s central estimate for a medium emissions scenario. For more infomation about the projections, visit the UKCP09 Home Page. For more detailed information, visit the UKCP09 User Interface.
What can be done?
A lot of the answers are already out there. Climate South East is working to develop and share solutions to climate change. Become a member to get involved in our working groups, access all of our resources and case studies, and take part in our events.
