Memorandum submitted by Chartered Institution
of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM)
The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental
Management (CIWEM) is the leading professional and qualifying
body for those who are responsible for the stewardship of environmental
assets. The Institution provides independent comment, within a
multi-disciplinary framework, on the wide range of issues related
to water and environmental management and sustainable development.
1. CIWEM welcomes the added focus on adaptation
within the climate change agenda and believes that capacity building
within the Government is a necessary step to integrate climate
change risks into decision making. Whilst mitigation potentially
allows for more words than action, especially in the context of
a political term, adaptation requires early adoption and commitment
from the outset. Adaptation and mitigation both need to be addressed
in equal measure with funding allocated in the present.
2. Within Government, climate change is
clearly a cross-departmental issue but we would suggest that climate
change as a threat needs to receive more attention. As Sir David
King commented in 2004: "climate change is the most severe
threat we are facing today". There is a need to elevate climate
change to a higher priority, similar to that of terrorism, with
a senior figure appropriated with the ability to call for action
across all departments when required. The fragmentation of climate
change impacts and implications across several, if not all, Government
departments and the lack of a "champion who has cross-departmental
power means that delivery of firm action across Government is
difficult.
3. There is a great concern that throughout
the Adapting to Climate Change programme, the Government is following
an "anthropocentric" position and as such is failing
to address key issues. Despite all of our technology we depend
upon the services provided by our natural environment and in particular
those provided from biological diversity. Our efforts should at
least consider what we need to do to protect these services from
the effects of climate change.
4. Adaptation to climate change in the UK
is hindered by a lack of support for innovation. Recent announcements
by the Government are unlikely to change this situation. In the
water industry especially, the current price-and-asset-driven
regulatory system works firmly against innovation and the same
regulation pays minimal attention to technologies that are climate
resilient and sustainable.
5. In order to adapt to climate change,
there is a fundamental challenge within the water industry and
water management in general. Water management is extremely fragmented
and is not integrated; this is counter to the Water Framework,
which is the guiding directive in this area. At present, flood
risk management tends to involve accelerating water through the
catchment rather than innovative approaches to storage; this then
exacerbates water shortages. If well established techniques (such
as wetland creation, winter storage of water, increased permeability
of surfaces, storage areas, forestry and riparian trees), were
utilised in a more wide ranging way for all catchments (including
urban catchments) we would adapt to climate change through lower
run-off in extreme rainfall periods and more effective storage
of water for dry periods.
6. With regard to investment in flood risk
management assisting with adaptation to climate change, measures
in the forthcoming Flood and Water Management Bill are welcomed
by CIWEM. However there is concern that local authorities do not
have the capacity in terms of staffing and expertise to deliver
local flood risk management. Funding allocated to date is enough
to deliver some of the required surface water management plans,
but there appears to be little likelihood that significant and
ongoing funding to deliver the full measures within the Bill will
be provided. CIWEM has offered to develop with partners a package
of capacity building support to local authorities and local stakeholders
which would include local champions, a nation-wide advisory service,
local forums and training packages, but calls for funding have
been left unanswered.
7. In terms of house building, moves to
develop more "sustainable" and resource efficient homes
are gathering pace, but this pace is not fast enough. In Australia,
severe drought has lead to strong action by Government in terms
of changing markets for water efficient devices so that new industry
and innovation has been encouraged and less efficient devices
are forced off the market. This requires a more active Government
role, rather than the fairly passive approach taken in the UK.
8. CIWEM is concerned that the current programme
of Regional Spatial Strategies does not allow for development
that takes account of the risks from climate change. Households,
businesses, infrastructure and public services will all need to
be prepared, yet proposing new house building strategies in resource
stressed areas will undermine adaptive actions and not allow for
those most vulnerable in society to adapt.
9. CIWEM believes that there should be more
focus on building resilience, especially in areas vulnerable to
flooding. There is considerable inertia from the insurance industry
to offer that damaged property is rebuilt in a more resilient
way. The Government needs to encourage the insurance sector to
replace the "like for like" approach at the lowest cost
with a system where resilient materials and refurbishment is expected
in certain areas at risk of repeat flooding.
10. As most of the impacts of climate change
will occur outside of our borders an international perspective
is required. DFID have commissioned studies to look at the impact
of climate change on existing technologies in relation to water
and sanitation in low income countries. Initial findings suggest
that the transfer of solutions can play a larger role in assisting
adaptation rather than the development of new technologies. At
a local level this requires capacity building for a more flexible
and knowledgeable profession through research, management systems
and training.
11. Public engagement in climate change
issues is very weak. There needs to be increased engagement and
a significant programme of educational measures by Government
so that there is a deeper understanding of climate change issues.
The level of funding required for a significant mass media campaign
in climate change is way beyond the sums allocated to "Act
on CO2" and other recent campaigns.
5 October 2009
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