Britain Climate Change Risks Outlined In New Study

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 683.

St. Paul's Cathedral is seen in the early morning sunlight among the skyline through the smog in central London

LONDON (AP) — Coastlines, working patterns, and even the country's most famous meal are under threat from climate change, Britain said Thursday in its first-ever national assessment of the likely risks.

The 2.8 million pound ($4.4 million) study sets out the most pressing problems expected to affect the United Kingdom as a result of climate change, from rising sea levels to more frequent summer droughts.

In a gloomy forecast for Britain's environment department, a panel of independent analysts predicted as many as 5,900 more people could die as a result of hotter summers — but also claimed there will be a sharp reduction in deaths currently due to cold weather by the 2050s.

Infrastructure and businesses will be badly affected by more frequent floods, with the cost of damage likely to rise from 1.3 billion pounds ($2 billion) to as much as 12 billion pounds ($18.8 billion) by the 2080s, if adequate preparations aren't taken.

By the 2050s, between 27 million and 59 million people in Britain are likely to be living in areas suffering problems with water supplies, the report claims. Britain is predicted to have a population of about 77 million by 2050.

Beaches and historic coastlines are likely to be reshaped by coastal erosion, with the rate expected to increase fourfold, the report said. "This might have significant implications for communities and habitats," it said.

Analysts predict an increase in the overheating of workplaces which would harm businesses by reducing employee productivity and increasing energy bills, because of a greater reliance on air conditioning.

Without alteration work, sewers will overflow more frequently and spill pollution into seas and rivers, while heavier rainfall is likely to cause frequent damage to roads, railway tracks and bridges.

The report also warned that Britain's stocks of cod — a key component of the nation's beloved fish and chips — will dwindle, but should be replaced by more plentiful numbers of fish such as plaice and sole.

However, the study also points out possible benefits to Britain. It notes that there will likely be better yields for crops of wheat, sugar beet and potatoes, that the melting of Arctic sea ice will open quicker shipping routes and that warmer temperatures will make the U.K. a more attractive tourist destination.

"Without an effective plan to prepare for the risks from climate change the country may sleepwalk into disaster," said John Krebs, chairman of a group that advises Britain's government on adapting to climate change.

Britain has pledged to cut its carbon emissions in half by 2025, though the target could be loosened if other European countries fail to cut their own emissions accordingly.

The U.K. has a legally mandated commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent by 2030, and 80 percent by 2050.

Analysts who drafted the report said other nations likely face more significant challenges than Britain in coping with the impact of a changing climate.

"Potential climate risks in other parts of the world are thought to be much greater than those directly affecting the U.K., but could have a significant indirect impact here ... on global health, political stability and international supply chains," the report said.

1. Cold weather may result in 7, 000 deaths by 2050.

2. The cost of damage because of wildfires may rise to 14 billion pounds.

3. 59 million people will live un the areas where they will suffer problems with food supplies.

4. Coastal erosion will increase at fivefold rate.

5. Overheating workplaces will be mitigated by the use of air condition.

6. Sewers are likely to fond the ways to cut water pollution.

7. The rainfall will damage infrastructure less frequently.

8. Britain stocks of place will dwindle dramatically to replaces by herring.

9. The crops of wheat and potato will decrease.

10. The shipping routs will open later in the year.

11. A legally mandated commitment of Britain is to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50 % by 2050.

12. The climate changes are likely to have greater indirect impact on Britain than on other parts of the world.

4 (a). Watch the video fragment “Perfect storm – air pollution in London” and fill the gaps in its script below. Pay attention to the following terms:

* an odd and even number plate ban The ban to drive in certain areas (usually the centre of the city) for a certain period, which is applied alternately to cars with odd and even number plates.

** scare tactic ‘Scare Tactics' is a hidden camera prank show that puts victims into terrifying situations, usually involving movie-style special effects and makeup that recreates horror movie clichés. By this term here they mean constant feedback from 177 London live traffic cameras which may anytime upload on the net videotaped evidence of one's wrongdoings on the road.

There's a perfect storm of concerns about air pollution in London in 2012. Annual levels of ____________ , a ______ gas, more than twice World Health Organization guideline levels and legal limits near busy streets like this one.

In 2010 concentrations of _______________ in London were the highest of any capital city in Europe and comparable with levels in Beijing before it took action before the 2008 Olympics.

Air pollution matters. The Mayor of London has estimated ______ deaths attributable to ___________________ to ________ air pollution in 2008. That number is comparable with the ______ deaths attributable to ___________ exposure to _______ air pollution in a Great Smog of 1952 when we knew nothing about the _____________ of long-term exposure to air pollution. Only smoking causes more early deaths than long-term exposure to air pollution.

More than a year ago the Olympic Delivery Authority admitted that the Olympic _____________ and associated ______________ would cause temporary and local breaches of air pollution laws.

Now there are two ways traditionally to ___________ those __________ . The first is an ______________________________________ as in Beijing in 2008 and the other approach is the big _______________, which plays mind games with drivers. Lord Coe wrote to clean air in London in 2008 setting out a bold and positive vision for air quality during the London 2012 Olympics. Frankly, he and the Olympic Delivery Authority have done everything possible within their powers to deliver on that positive vision. But so far they have been let down by the Mayor and the government who have chosen to use pollution ___________ along ______ reads by __________ stations and _________________ backed by hundreds and perhaps, thousands of local traffic __________ . These are likely to infuriate Londoners and others during the games.

The Olympic organizers have made London ready for the world. But what we need now from the Mayor and the government? Appropriate warnings about ____________ and air pollution, particularly if we have a ________ episode like 2003 or 2006. London should be leading the world in ___________ air pollution as it did after a Great Smog of 1952.

(b) Speak about the following:

1. Londoners were concerned about the air pollution just because they could demonstrate their indifference during the Olympics.

2. Air pollution doesn't matter for the city dwellers.

3. The first way of mitigating the congestion looks more reasonable than the second.

4. The Mayor did his best to tackle air pollution.

5. One of the priority environmental issues in the UK nowadays is developing urban areas. Look though the excerpt from the report of the British Environment Agency, choose one of the aspects: 1) transport; 2) water and 3) noise, greenspace and loss of wildlife, organize a panel discussion of the issue as if you were the members of this commission.