UK Climate Change Programme 2006 - JNCC - Defra

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CHAPTER ONE
Adaptation
The Government will take action to:
• develop a comprehensive and robust
approach to adaptation in the UK through
the Adaptation Policy Framework (APF);
• publish revised and expanded climate
change scenarios for the UK in 2008; and
• monitor and develop the knowledge base
on climate change impacts and adaptation
through the UKCIP.
4. A great deal has happened in the field of climate
impacts and adaptation since 2000, both
internationally with the publication in 2001 of
the IPCC’s Third Assessment Report and work by
the UNFCCC to support adaptation in both
developed and developing countries, and
domestically, with the publication of climate
change scenarios for the UK in 2002 and the
development of widely adopted tools,
methodologies and research by the UK Climate
Impacts Programme and other centres. The
Government has played a key role in each of
these arenas and will continue to do so.
Introduction
Impacts of climate change in the UK
1. Some degree of climate change resulting from
past and present emissions of greenhouse gases
is already inevitable. In order to cope with the
impacts of climate change we need to adapt –
this action is complementary to our efforts to
reduce emissions to avoid dangerous levels of
climate change.
2. Adaptation can mean any action, either
intentional or accidental, taken to minimise the
adverse effects of climate change or to take
advantage of any beneficial effects. Adaptation
strategies vary considerably between different
types of organisation, and will be undertaken at a
range of scales, from central government policy
to modest individual projects. There are two main
approaches to adaptation:
• building adaptive capacity. This involves
creating the information and conditions
(regulatory, institutional, managerial) that
enable adaptation actions to be undertaken;
and
• delivering adaptation actions. This involves
taking actions that will help to reduce
vulnerability to climate risks, or exploit
opportunities.
3. Anticipatory adaptation (as opposed to reactive
adaptation) is important for the protection or
maintenance of existing and future capital assets
with long life spans.
5. Chapter 1 set out the way in which the UK’s
climate has changed in the past, and is predicted
to change further in the future. These changes in
climate are likely to have far-reaching effects on
our environment, economy and society in all
regions and in some cases these are already being
felt. Without effective action to tackle the causes
of climate change, climate-related risks and
damages will increase. Adaptation needs to be
planned accordingly, and this section sets out the
framework through which this will occur.
6. In the UK, although climate change may bring
opportunities and benefits as well as threats,
we note that the larger the changes and rate of
change in climate, the more the adverse effects
will predominate.
7. Some of the most widely-expected adverse
impacts in the UK include:
• an increased risk of flooding and coastal
erosion;
• increased pressure on drainage systems;
• possible increased winter storm damage;
• habitat and species loss;
• summer water shortages and low stream
flows;