Brown: UK must adapt to climate change
Monday, 23 July 2007 12:00 AM
The UK will need to reorganise its infrastructure to meet the challenges of climate change, Gordon Brown said today.
The prime minister admitted the UK must be better prepared for the heavy flooding which has devastated many parts of England in recent weeks.
However, the prime minister was careful to stress the extent of flooding was not due to a failure of government planning.
Mr Brown insisted the Environment Agency had been adequately funded to provide flood defences, but admitted the government would need to reassess the issue as climate change increases the occurrences of freak weather.
"Like every advanced industrial country we are coming to terms with the issues surrounding climate change," he said, in a monthly press conference dominated by the recent floods.
Many of the country's 19th century infrastructures may be inappropriate in the face of climate change, Mr Brown said.
Environment secretary Hilary Benn has been tasked with a review of flood defences. The prime minister said today this would include the sitting of infrastructure, as well as flood defences and drainage.
Mr Benn this afternoon updated MPs on the flooding. He told the Commons funding would be available to help local councils rebuild and said the review of this summer's flooding would look at any lessons to be taken from the past few days.
Many areas have already lost power supplies and households in Gloucestershire, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury are preparing to lose their water supplies for several days.
As the government insists it is not practical to rule out all building on flood plains, Mr Brown said the Environment Agency will be able to advise on future projects.
The prime minister promised to actively seek input from the Environment Agency, saying it would be able to voice its objections to the secretary of state throughout the planning process.
He insisted the Environment Agency has been "in no way handicapped" by the financial measures of the past few years, with every major project sought by the EA going ahead.
Mr Benn and Mr Brown warned the current flood risk is not over, with nine severe flood warnings still in place.
Rivers are not expected to peak until Tuesday and the waters are now expected to exceed the 1947 floods, previously seen as the "benchmark" for flood disasters.
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