| Studies
such as ‘Climate change and the Visitor Economy’
are important to help us better understand the
impacts. There
is an assumption that tourism will benefit, it is
actually not necessarily so straightforward.”
He also talked of other regional actions and
initiatives such as the Northwest Climate Charter,
which is a declaration for organisations to sign that
recognises the need to reduce emissions and prepare
for the impacts of climate change.
For information on this, Steven can be
contacted at s.glynn@snw.org.uk.
Andrew
Parsons explained current DEFRA studies and policies
to plan for increased flood risk.
He said that extreme high water events – such
as those that might have been seen once in a hundred
years may become almost annual events.
Paul
Needham of the Environment Agency talked of the
pressure for development on land at risk of flooding.
He said that the expenditure on coastal defence
in England and Wales, currently 1.4 million/annum has
been forecast to reach 22 or 75 billion/annum over the
next 80 years if current level of defence is
maintained.
Fiona
Cruchley described a whole range of energy saving and
efficiency improvements that Lancashire County Council
have introduced, such as staff travel planning which
has increased car sharing and public transport use,
and the Lancashire Environment Strategy with a strong
focus on reducing emissions.
Chris
Lumb gave a passionate explanation of the many ways
that coastal and marine ecosystems are responding to
change. He
said that breeding birds had already shown a 9 km
northward shift, and that once exotic species, such as
trigger fish and leatherback turtles are visiting
British waters in greater numbers.
He said that there will be considerable
pressure on north Irish Sea cod stocks, some migratory
bird populations, and, as sea water becomes more
acidic, all coral reefs.
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Sponsors
Government
Office North West; Lancashire County Council;
Environment Agency; Centrica www.bowind.co.uk
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Everyone
is welcome at our seminars, please register
as a member
of the Partnership to be sure to
be invited every time.
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