Environment Agency Announces Five Year Flooding and Climate Change Plan
On Tuesday morning the Environment Agency revealed a number of measures intended to protect the UK from flooding and deal with climate change over the next five years.
The corporate strategy, to be implemented in 2010, was unveiled at the agency's annual conference in London's Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre. This followed MP Ed Miliband's announcement of sites for nuclear power stations.
Dr Paul Leinster, the agency's chief executive, revealed that part of the five year plan would see the agency support Miliband's nuclear power strategy. Other low-carbon technologies to be supported include renewable power.
The five year plan also outlines strategies to protect an additional 200,000 business from flooding.
9,000miles of waterways will be improved and serious pollution incidents will be reduced by 5% annually.
Looking back at the agency's achievements over the last five years Dr Leinster points out a significant reduction in waste going to landfills, an increase in properties protected from flooding, a 50% reduction in pollution incidents (since 2000) and an increase in the number of fish and wildlife in UK rivers and lakes.
The agency also predicts an increase in the number of properties threatened by flooding, due to climate change. The number of properties at the highest risk of flooding is thought to rise by 60% to 900,000 by 2035 if the agency's advice to annually increase investment into flood defenses is ignored.
The five year plan outlines a pledge to maintain current defenses and invest in new ones, to further restrict development in flood plains and to shape new coastal habitats and wetlands.
An estimated 16 million increase in the country's population by 2050 is expected to dramatically increase pressure in terms of limited water supplies and waste treatment facilities.
The agency aims to play its part in the protection of the environment by continually reducing its own carbon footprint; staff mileage was reduced 8.9 miles between 2006 to 2008.
Furthermore, the agency installed 80 wind turbines on the land it owns, sparing the environment 224,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.
The plan highlights the severity of environmental issues and their impact on every single one of us. This speaks as a reminder for all of us to take responsibility of our actions and to protect ourselves from potential future damage and economic impact, i.e. update insurance policies in the case of flooding.
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