december 2006

09-12-2006
UK gives guidance on adapting flood defence to climate change

New flood defences must be fully adaptable to the consequences of climate change and rising sea levels, according to new guidance issued by the UK's Departement for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

The guidance advises those responsible for building flood defences to plan for the long term, by factoring in increasing rates of sea level rise - a result of the climate change already locked in to the global system. Sea level rise is likely to accelerate from the current 2.5mm to 4mm a year to 13mm and 15 mm a year by between 2085 and 2115.

Climate Change and Environment Minister Ian Pearson said:

“Adapting to the consequences of climate change is already a key consideration in managing the risks of flooding. We know that sea levels are rising, and this will get worse over time. This is why we need to work with natural processes rather than against them and also ensure that those responsible for designing flood defences adapt to the long term impacts of climate change.

“The new climate change guidance will help ensure that investment decisions for new coastal defences are sustainable and based on appropriate scientific advice.”

The new guidance, in line with previous climate change scenarios issued by DEFRA, will help authorities in the UK to calculate when and how best to build allowances for climate change and sea level rise into their flood defence plans. Read more here.

Source: DEFRA, UK





02-12-2006
Flanders launches campaign on Integrated Coastal Zone Management
Flemish governmental institutes have formed an alliance  to launch the campaign 'De kust kijkt verder' (English: The coast looks ahead).

Main reason is that the coastal zone is used for a large variety of functions, such as socio-cultural functions, ecology, economy and safety, that are sometimes not easy to balance with eachother.

Therefore the website www.dekustkijktverder.be gives a wide range of examples of succesful cases of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM).