South England coastal towns told to prepare for climate change

Newhaven, Seaford and Lewes in the south of England are to take part in an initiative that will identify the best ways of adapting to the long-term threats of coastal climate change.

The Coastal Communities 2150 (CC2150) South England coastal towns told to prepare for climate

change

Newhaven, Seaford and Lewes in the south of England are to take part in an initiative that will identify the best ways of adapting to the long term threats of coastal climate change.

The Coastal Communities 2150 (CC2150) project, undertaken by the Environment Agency, will call on residents, businesses and local authorities to get involved in setting up a plan to tackle coastal issues, such as floods and sinking land levels.

The Environment Agency has estimated that by 2150 3,000 properties around these areas will be at risk from river and coastal flooding. Future development could be impacted by the plans if they are seen to compromise the damage limitation strategies.

Plans such as these may become common place in Europe and around the world. 60 per cent of the world’s human population live close to the coast, within about 100 kilometres of the shore.

John Gower, Environment Agency project manager, said: "Decisions taken today will have a significant and lasting impact on our coastline and the communities who will live and work along it in 2150, just as Victorian decision making has influenced how we manage our coastline today."

Posted by Joseph Hutton