Water sector climate projections in practice
09/07/09
Press release: Water UK and Defra today jointly hosted a water sector Projections-in-Practice workshop on implications of the UK Climate Projections 2009 released last month.
Dan Norris, new Defra minister for climate change adaptation, provided the opening address. Other speakers included the UK Climate Impacts Programme, Ofwat, the Environment Agency and Anglian Water.
The water industry has long experience of planning for climate change, and the expected impacts are embedded in long-term plans for providing both clean water and waste water services. However, the new projections add levels of sophistication and complexity not been seen before. To understand fully, embed and use the information will take some time and the industry has work in hand to do this, which can now begin in earnest.
One of the most important aspects of adaptation is the need to work in partnership across organisations and sectors. There are many examples where the water industry cannot deliver solutions to climate change alone, including surface water management, sustainable urban drainage systems and the more efficient use of water.
Accompanying the projections is a consultation on a new statutory adaptation reporting power. The water industry supports the need for key organisations to demonstrate the plans and actions they have in place to adapt to climate change.
Water UK Chief Executive Pamela Taylor said:
"Demand for water is closely correlated with temperature. We will need to be prepared to meet that demand at just those times of the year when water supplies are under most pressure. We want to take the action necessary to maintain high-quality, reliable services into the future. Our regulators, the government and, most crucially, the public would expect nothing less."
Planning for climate change – the irresistible case for action
Climate change and the water industry
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Water UK Communication
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