The United Kingdom and Climate Change

THE UNITED KINGDOM AND CLIMATE CHANGE

• Since the Industrial Revolution, global temperatures have risen.
• It is expected, that by 2020, temperatures would have risen by 1°c since the 1990's.

• Summer temperatures in the south of England are expected to exceed 30°c.
• Droughts and heatwaves will become more common - 25 times more likely.
• Rainfall will increase.
• Temperatures will drop in winter months.
• In 2003, Europe experienced a 10 day heatwave. Temperatures reached 40°c across many parts of Europe - caused 35,000 deaths.
• In July 2001, underground temperatures reached 40°c.
• By 2020, it is expected that winter storms will become more common, especially in the northern parts of the UK.
• River flooding will become more common, especially the River Severn.
• By 2020, Scotland will get more prolonged rain during winter months.
• In general, summers will become hotter and drier.
• The impacts predicted to happen by 2020 can be reversed as long as we act now.

• URBAN HEAT ISLANDS - buildings and man-made features hold heat. These release the heat slowly, and increase air temperatures through the night. The bigger the city, the bigger the effect.
• When temperatures rise, roads can soften and buckle.
• Front gardens being turned into driveways is causing a massive problem during spells of prolonged heavy rain. Over 1 million homes have covered front gardens with tarmac. Surface run off is increased.

• There is expected to be a 2.5°c rise.
• Temperatures will exceed 30°c in England and Wales.
• Scotland will experience much more snow.
• In the natural environment, species will be breeding much earlier.
• Survival of plants and animals with a 2.5°c change is at risk.
• Scottish highlands are at the greatest risk.
• Plants/insects that birds feed on could disappear - Birds can't nest - populations could become extinct.
• Atlantic salmon in the Scottish Blackwater River - after flash floods there would be a significant decrease in salmon.
• Farmers in Devon, southern England are able to grow olives.
• Peaches, oranges and kiwi's could also be grown.

• There is expected to be a 4°c rise.
• 33°c temperatures across England and Wales will become the norm in summer months.
• Could even experience temperatures of 40°c some summers.
• Low level areas of eastern England could be at threat of sea level rise (due to the melting glaciers)
• Urban planners would need to think about new housing developments - houses will need to shut out heat, whilst being environmentally friendly.
• UK resorts, like Blackpool could become more popular than the Costa Del Sol bringing tourism opportunities.
• 75cm sea level rise - could see and increase in storm surges.
• Thames barrier prevents London from being flooded. But in 2080, it is unlikely to stop the predicted storm surges and Central London could be experience significant flooding - up to 2metres deep.

• BedZED community - no central heating, cool in the summer, warmer in the winter. Hot water comes in from a local source. Saves water - plants on the roof collects water.
• Can BedZED be used on a larger scale?
• CouldHybrid carsbe the future? (using electric instead petrol)
• Biofuel cars - as plants grow they store carbon dioxide in the atmosphere - balances out the carbon dioxide when you burn them to make the fuels. The disadvantage of this is that you need huge expanses of land to grow the amount of plants needed to run all cars in this way.