Where next?

Having read about the climate changes expected by the 2050s, their impacts on services, assets, communities, business and infrastructure across the region, and the adaptation measures that are best-suited to tackling these impacts, you may be wondering ‘where next?’.

1. In response to the findings of this study there is an immediate and ongoing need for adaptation action.  This ranges from planning now for future changes in the design or location of buildings or infrastructure, through co-ordinating activities and communicating knowledge across sectors, to ‘on-the-ground’ actions to deliver practical measures.  To assist this process, we have provided a suggested High Level Adaptation Action Summary to cover the immediate essential adaptation activities.  It is intended that this forms the basis of further dialogue, debate and, most importantly, actions across the region to start better adapting to the inevitable climate changes expected by the 2050s.

2. Beyond this, we recognise that nothing remains static.  Just as the climate is changing, so the science and modelling tools used to project the climate changes are continually developing due to technological advances.  Other social, economic and political factors are also evolving.  For example, government policy may soon focus more strongly on adaptation, and more output will become available from existing research programmes relating to impacts and adaptation approaches.  Furthermore, the ‘local detail’ boundaries used in this study are based on the twenty-three Local Authority districts or boroughs and these will change across large parts of the study area, resulting in new unitary authorities in Northumberland and County Durham.  All of these factors mean that it would be appropriate to review and update this adaptation study at appropriate future intervals, to ensure that such changes and developments are taken into account.  This will also give the opportunity to review progress with respect to the Adaptation Action Plan.

3. There is also a need to ensure that any work on adaptation is taken forward in parallel with mitigation activities within the broader agenda to tackling climate change across the region.  The roll of the North East Climate Change Action Plan is key in ensuring both adaptation and mitigation are components of the region’s approach.

4. The present study has focused on the main within-region impacts expected under projected climate changes by the 2050s.  However, it is recognised that there could be changes or pressures associated with climate change from outwith the region that could also directly impact upon the north east.  For example, with reductions in summer rainfall in the south-east, compounded by the scale of likely future residential development, could cause greater pressure for pan-regional water supply networks, placing increased pressure on the north east region’s presently plentiful supplies.  Also, with temperatures set to rise, there could be more migration to the region from elsewhere in the UK, or indeed from around the world, as other regions become excessively hot.  These outwith region pressures on the north east should be considered in more detail, if appropriate, to complement the within-region impacts addressed in this study.

Concluding Comments
It is claimed by some that the North East region has an historic legacy of “carboniferous capitalism” that has contributed to the global climate change problem.

The North East region is now creating a new legacy by leading the research on climate change projections, impacts assessment and adaptation that, alongside its work on mitigation within the North East Climate Change Action Plan, is significantly contributing solutions to the climate change problem.

The North East region now needs to continue pacing forwards by leading delivery and implementation of practical adaptation and mitigation measures.

We hope that you have found this site interesting, informative and thought-provoking. 

You can also Contact Us for further information.  We would be pleased to hear your views.

Thank you for your visit.