Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Use

19 October 2007

ROYAL COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION STUDY ON “ADAPTING THE UK TO CLIMATE CHANGE”

INVITATION TO SUBMIT INFORMATION

The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution today announced that it is to investigate “Adapting the UK to Climate Change” as the topic for its next major study.

The Chair of the Royal Commission, Sir John Lawton, said:

“Climate change is unavoidable. The Royal Commission has chosen this topic because it believes there is an urgent need to understand how the UK should adapt to climate change. To date, the main focus on climate change has rightly been on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with considerable political effort focussed on what the targets and mechanisms for reductions should be.

“Identifying what adaptive measures to take is not immediately obvious. Adaptation should be conducted in concert with mitigation strategies and should, insofar as it is possible, be done in a way that minimises any unintended consequences. It is unlikely that there is a single set of answers, but there needs to be analysis of what the options are to prepare for the future.

“This is a natural progression from our 2000 report Energy – the Changing Climate, and will inform the Government and the EU as they tackle this difficult subject.  I look forward to the Royal Commission contributing to this most important of debates.”

Adapting the UK to Climate Change was selected as the topic for study after the Royal Commission received public comments on the shortlist it published in July 2007. The Royal Commission will take a broad look at the issues and make recommendations on how the UK should best respond to the challenges of adapting to climate change and how to support international adaptation efforts.

The main phase of the study will take place in 2008 and is expected to report in 2009. The study is likely to cover a number of themes, including for example biodiversity, land use, transport, health and wellbeing, water management, energy. The scoping phase of the study will determine the extent to which these and other issues will be included within the remit of the study.

The Royal Commission is inviting views about the key issues upon which this study should concentrate, which should be sent to Jon Freeman by 25 January 2008, at the contact details below.

Notes for Editors

The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution is an independent body, appointed by the Queen and funded by the government, which publishes in-depth reports on what it identifies as the crucial environmental issues facing the UK and the world. The Commission’s full reports are presented to Parliament.

FURTHER INFORMATION

The contact for enquiries on the study of Climate Adaptation in the UK is:

Jon Freeman (tel. 020 7799 8980, email jon.freeman@rcep.org.uk), Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, 5-8 The Sanctuary, Westminster, London, SW1P 3JS.