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One-stop-shop for climate change adaptation launched

Photo of a dired up river bedA new one-stop-shop website to help businesses, planners and organisations deal with the impacts of climate change has been launched today.

The online information hub will help people identify the challenges we will face in the future and to make the decisions now that will help us to manage them

As the climate changes, there will be more extreme weather, with an increased risk of flooding and erosion, hotter and drier summers, loss of biodiversity and risks to human health – and society will have to adapt to those changes.

The new website brings together the most comprehensive collection of resources on adapting to climate change in the UK. It highlights how the climate will alter, links to practical tools for adaptation, and gives examples of what is already being done around the country.

As she launched the website, Climate Change Minister Joan Ruddock called on public and private sector organisations to develop imaginative and innovative approaches to dealing with the impacts of a changing climate.

Ms Ruddock said:

“Our climate is changing. We need to future proof our buildings and public spaces against this as much as possible. Even nature itself will need help to adapt to climate change if we're not to lose precious biodiversity.

“We’ll need good design that works with the environment rather than against it, creating buildings that stay cool in the heat and deal with water that will be in short supply in summer and pouring into the drains during heavy storms.

“We are already starting to see some visionary climate-resistant buildings around Britain. I want builders and designers to follow the lead of the innovators  behind these buildings by factoring a changing climate into their plans.”

The new website is part of the Government’s drive to ensure that Britain is ready to deal with the impacts of climate change that are already irreversible.

To avoid dangerous climate change, it is vital to reduce CO2 emissions around the world and in the UK. However, even if all emissions stopped tomorrow, the world will still see rising temperatures for 30 to 40 years, and at least 100 years of sea level rise, due to CO2 emissions from the past.

The website is linked to the UK Climate Impacts Programme, the Environment Agency and others who are working on adapting to climate change, and will be updated regularly to reflect the latest information and advice.

Further information

Page published: 24 July 2008