Issue - meetings

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.

38.1     The Team Manager, Environmental Advice introduced report. There is a consensus in the scientific community that climate change is taking place, but there is not a consensus on that scale of change and when it will occur. Therefore, this makes it more difficult to plan which adaption measures should be put in place to ensure communities are resilient to the effects of climate change. A recent Government report noted that over the last century the United Kingdom (UK) has seen a 1º degree increase in temperatures and about a 15-16 cm rise in sea levels. The main impacts of climate change in East Sussex are predicted to be more flooding, droughts and heat waves. The adaptations required will flow from these impacts.

38.2     Currently, ESCC is reasonably well adapted to the predicted effects of climate change over the short term, mainly due to the requirements of legislation such as the Civil Contingencies Act, and the Flood and Water Management Act. There is significant uncertainty on what additional measures may need to be undertaken in the longer term. Consequently, the report suggests that ESCC reviews climate change adaptation measures every 5 years, in line with the Government cycle of updating policy which is based on research.

38.3     The Committee commented that it agreed with the analysis in the report and asked:

•           what more ESCC could do to adapt to the impacts of climate change; and

•           whether ESCC is in discussion and working with the utility companies on climate change adaption issues.

38.4     The Team Manager, Environmental Advice replied that ESCC has ongoing discussions with utilities and bodies such as the Environment Agency to co-ordinate work plans and investment. There are smaller issues that ESCC is also working on, such as looking into setting up a heat alert for vulnerable residents, to forewarn them of heat events through the Sussex Air partnership.

38.5     The Director of CET commented that there is evidence that we are locked into warming for a significant time. The report therefore looks at adaptation measures rather than mitigation measures and the implications for planning and delivering services in East Sussex.

38.6     The Committee RESOLVED to request an update report on the County Council’s climate change adaptation plans in two years time.