WSP Live on Sky News to discuss the UK’s latest Climate Change report | 26th Jan 2012

Defra (the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) has today published the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment report which is being used to kick start the process of preparing a national adaptation plan to deal with the priority risks identified in the report.

WSP's Group Head of Sustainability, Dr Paul Toyne, was this morning interviewed live on Sky News about the findings in the report.

Whilst the report naturally identifies the many risks that the UK need to prepare for and adapt to, it also highlights some potential benefits, for example improved crop yields as a result of increased temperatures and fewer deaths and illnesses as a result of milder winters.

However, critical risks identified in the report include:

• Flood risk is projected to increase significantly across the UK with costs potentially increasing from £1.3bn per year to £12bn by 2080
• Hotter summers are projected leading to a significant increase in the risk of heat-related death and illness with a potential increase of 1,000 - 6,000 premature deaths by 2050.
• Increases in drought and some pests and diseases could reduce timber yields and quality by between 10% - 25% by 2080.
• An increase in overheating of workplaces may affect businesses' profitability by reducing employee productivity, potentially costing UK business £3.6bn by 2080.

• Water resources are projected to become scarcer with for example the Thames river basin region having a supply-demand deficit of between 940 and 2550 megalitres per day in the 2050s.
• Some species of animals and plants are projected be lost to the UK as their 'climate space' moves and he arrival of invasive non-native species may pose a threat to native species, with for example the slipper limpet, the Pacific oyster and the zebra mussel all potentially damaging or destroying important shellfish fisheries if they become more widespread.

You can find out more on the DEFRA website here. You can also watch a short pre-recorded video clip from Sky News which focusses in particular on the flood risks facing the UK here.  

Speaking after the Sky News interview Paul Toyne said; "The report doesn't necessarily tell us anything new but it does confirm the vital issues that we all need to prepare for in order to have a sustainable and prosperous future. WSP has so much to offer in this regard, whether it's through our master planners, our infrastructure experts, our flood risk experts, our building designers, our water foot printing specialists or our ecology teams. There is a huge task ahead and we are committed to helping our clients prepare for the future by managing the risks and maximising on the potential opportunities."