Expert warns that without government action, Kentish coasts will suffer from climate change
The warning comes as the May heatwave continues.
As temperatures continue to soar, the Climate Change Committee are calling for improved cooling, flood defences, and a resilient water supply, targeting the UK's major climate risks: heat, flooding, and drought.
This comes off the back of a new report released by the agency last week, which claims that without urgent government intervention, there could be regular
Talking to Greatest Hits Radio Kent directly about the issue, CEO Emma Pinchbeck said:
"The report is advice to government on what science says the impacts to the UK will be from climate change.
"And the big three risks we're keen to highlight are that by 2050, we're expecting to see extreme heat being a real problem for the UK. So temperatures over 40 degrees, but also more heat waves and more periods of things called tropical nights where the temperature never drops below 18 degrees.
"So we will be fundamentally a hot country in the summer.
"We're also talking about flooding.
"We already experience risks from flooding in this country, but those risks are going to get worse around rivers, and also coastal communities, including in parts of Kent.
"And then lastly, of the big three risks, drought. So there will be parts of the UK that are running the risk of running out of water or facing real water shortages"
Addressing the issues for Kent specifically further, she added:
"Our coastal infrastructure, like the Port of Dover, needs to be protected from very changing flood conditions."
"For beautiful natural landscapes like the Kentish coast, or for coastal infrastructure like the Port of Dover, there will be rising risks from flooding and coastal erosion.
"And there are risks of extreme heat.
"We're saying there that we'll need more trees, different kinds of species planted to really think about protecting natural landscapes as well as our towns and cities to make them still places that we love to visit in 20 years time."
In response to the report, Environment Secretary, Emma Reynolds said:
"We are acting to protect people and places from the impacts of climate change that are already being felt across the UK - from flooding to extreme heat and drought.
"We have already invested a record £2.65 billion to repair and build flood defences, protecting tens of thousands of homes and businesses, and have deployed the largest nature-friendly farming budget in history to support sustainable food production and security.
"Robust, independent science is essential and we will carefully consider the Climate Change Committee's latest recommendations to drive further action.”