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Kent facing huge threat from climate change: new map
24 June 2008
New map shows Medway's climate change threat.
Today, the World Development Movement has published a shocking new map and data, clearly showing the very real affect that climate change could have in Kent, especially in Medway.
The research shows that unless we radically reduce emissions now, the following affects could be seen in Kent:
Loss of coastal land:
Current models for climate change predict that without serious action to cut emissions the sea-level in Kent could rise by 74cm by 2080. But this does not include the melting of land-based ice from the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets. Predictions that take the melting of the ice caps into account point towards a 5 metre sea-level rise by the end of this century.[i]
The dark purple areas on the map show that by the end of the century, the following areas could be below sea-level:
- some of Gravesend
- most of the Hoo peninsula, including the site of Kingsnorth
- parts of Stroud, Rochester and Gillingham around the river Medway
- most of the Isle of Sheppey, and Sheerness
- the coast from Ramsgate to Deal, including much of Sandwich
- an arc encompassing Romney Marsh from Hythe round to Winchelsea.
Although, some of the impacts of sea-level rise could be countered by increased flood defences, Kent County Council says that it will “become increasingly unsustainable, both economically and environmentally” to build and strengthen sea defences.[ii] Coastal communities already fear the loss of their homes, as it becomes too difficult and costly to maintain sea defences.
Storms and floods:
There are currently around 44,000 properties in Kent at risk of flooding from coastal flooding, and a further 26,000 from rivers flooding.[iii] Climate change is increasing those risks. Areas at risk of increased flooding include the Thames Gateway and Ashford growth areas, the Wantsum Channel, the Isle of Sheppey and Romney Marsh.[iv]
There is a significant overlap between areas at risk of flooding and areas of poverty in Kent. The worst effects of climate change will be felt by the poorest both globally, and the poorest people in Kent.[v]
Leila Deen, coal campaigner at the World Development Movement said:
“Kent is at the fore front of the fight against climate change right now because of the proposed power station at Kingsnorth. But climate change is a very local issue in Kent, and is not just something that is going to happen to other people far away. But climate change is not inevitable, we can change the shape of this map, if we campaign together and make the government act.
“It’s madness to build a new generation of power stations burning coal, the most climate-damaging fuel of all. Seven new coal-fired power stations are in the pipe line, starting with one on the Hoo Peninsula. All those people who love Kent should join us and oppose this backward step.
”Unless we act now, climate change will have a disastrous impact on people in Kent and all over the world. And it’s the poorest people who will be hit first and worst.”
A local issue going global
The World Development Movement will be holding a film and discussion night on ‘Kent, coal and climate change – A local issue going global’ on 17 July, from 7.30pm at Fort Amherst, Dock Road, Chatham, ME4 4UB
Speakers include Sean Furey from the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England Kent and UK premieres of films from Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Robert Redford and the World Development Movement. Find out more about the event.
The World Development Movement have begun an advertising campaign to counter E.ON’s green spin. The first advert was unveiled last week at a bus stop on the Hoo peninsula, showing that the peninsula would suffer a major loss of land by the end of the century.
The World Development Movement is running a campaign to stop the new coal fire power station at Kingsnorth, to get involved go to www.stopkingsnorth.org
To get involved in a local group in the Kent area email
The map can be downloaded at www.wdm.org.uk/kentfloodingmap
ENDS
For more information and interviews please call
Kate Blagojevic
Press officer, World Development Movement
0207 820 4900/4913, 07711 875 345, Email:
Notes to editors
- The projections that the World Development Movement have used are based on the latest science but are not inevitable, as we still have time to prevent the worst effects of climate change.
- Climate Change Impacts, South East Climate Change Partnership, November 2002; Kent County Council Select Committee on Climate Change, October 2006; Proceedings of Tomorrow’s Kent Climate Change Conference, February 2008; Medway council
- Map drawn by Andrew Lathwell based on NASA data and map projections at http://flood.firetree.net.
- Models predict that sea levels will rise around Kent by 16 centimetres by 2020 and 74 centimetres by 2080. But this prediction can not include Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets which are already melting. Predictions that try to take account of this suggest sea levels could rise by five metres by the end of this century.
- Other factors, including storm surges and heavier rain in winter, are combining with sea level rise to make flooding events more likely and disastrous.
[i] Hansen, J. (2007). Huge sea level rises are coming – unless we act now. New Scientist. 28/07/07.
[ii] Kent County Council. (2006). Select Committee on Climate Change Report. October 2006.
[iii]Proceedings of Tomorrows Kent Climate Change Conference, February 2008 and email from the Environment Agency
[iv] Kent County Council. (2006). Select Committee on Climate Change Report. October 2006.
[v] Kent County Council. (2006). Select Committee on Climate Change Report. October 2006.
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