Developing an environmental strategy for UK film - BFI

Impacts of Climate Change: Flooding
Major floods usually happen on average every 100 years, with climate change this may now
happen every 10 or 20 years. By 2020, most areas of Europe are likely to see an increased flood
risk; 7 by the 2080s up to 100 million people worldwide could be at risk of flooding. Much of
southern Britain is sinking, increasing the risk of flooding and coastal erosion, particularly in the
south and east of England (Figure 6). The higher the mean sea level the worse storms and erosion
will be.
Five million people in England and Wales are at risk from flooding every year. Two million
homes have been built in the natural floodplain of rivers or the coast which are vulnerable to
flooding; the total financial cost of all of the property, land and assets in these areas has been put
at a value of £214 billion. Insurance companies are faced with increasing bills and will therefore
either put up their premiums enormously, cut the level of cover they offer, or in some cases refuse
to ensure homes in high risk areas.
Major landmarks, tourism destinations and industrial areas within and around London are found
in areas which are very vulnerable to increasing flood risk, such as the business and finance areas
in Canary Wharf. Fortunately, the Thames Barrier can still protect vulnerable areas. Between
New Years’ Day and 8 January 2003 the Thames barrier was closed 14 times (double the
previous record of seven consecutive closures during the floods of October 2000). However,
heavy rain can result in severe, but localised flooding, which the Thames Barrier cannot prevent.
London’s Victorian sewage system can be easily overloaded in heavy rain; properties can be
flooded and large amounts of raw sewage released into water bodies. During August 2004 heavy
rainfall in London led to pollution killing thousands of fish, sewage debris, a foul smell along the
foreshore of the tidal Thames and significantly increased E. coli levels in the river.
Impacts of Climate Change: Sea Level Rise
A significant sea level rise is one of the major anticipated consequences of climate change. As
temperatures rise the sea absorbs heat from the atmosphere causing it to expand, thus creating sea
level rises, and land glaciers will continue to melt over the coming century which will further
increase sea levels. Although there is still uncertainty and scientific disagreement as to how
much sea levels will rise, it is generally accepted that they will rise. Estimates range from 9cms
to over 1 metre. Figure 7 illustrates what London will look like after a metre sea level rise.
A rise of a metre or more would be disastrous for major coastal cities, greatly increasing the risk
of devastating storm surges, displacing millions of people from their homes, losing thousands of
km 2 of land use and causing millions of pounds of damage, all which will severely affect the
economy (Table 2). Even a small increase in sea level will increase the risk of serious flooding in
the Thames Estuary, which could cause the withdrawal of insurance cover and the collapse of the
property market. Consider the loss of land area directly relating to UK film, such as the BFI on
the Southbank, plus the associated urban disruptions and the impact this would have on the
industry (Figures 6 and 7).
7 Europe has already experienced severe floods : August 2004, Boscastle Cornwall, saw 8 inches of rain fall in 24 hours, approx 2 million
tonnes (440 million gallons) of water; July 2005, Romania, flooding causing damages 25,000 properties, estimated €650 million damage.
Version 1.0 - 8 -