Archived press release

Belfast could experience annual flood misery by the end of the century

18 February 2010

Belfast could experience annual flooding by the end of the century unless urgent action is taken to combat global warming and sea level rise, a conference on climate change will hear today (18 February 2010)[1]. The residential areas most at risk include: The Markets; Lower Ormeau; Lower Ravenhill; Lower Newtownards Road; Short Strand; Shore Road; Titanic Quarter; Orangefield; Sydenham; Lower Falls; and the Grosvenor Road, according to Friends of the Earth and the Town and Country Planning Association who hosted today's event.

According to the latest climate science, submitted to the Copenhagen conference and reviewed by Friends of the Earth, Belfast could experience an 80 cm sea level rise by the end of the century. The combined effect of this sea level rise, together with high rainfall events, storm surges and a spring tide, mean that by 2100, what is today considered to be a 1 in 100 year flood event would occur every four years, while today's 1 in 50 year event would occur annually [2].

Friends of the Earth's Northern Ireland Climate Campaigner, Declan Allison explained:

"Climate change will have dramatic implications for all our cities and particularly those vulnerable to sea level rise. Today we publish a flood risk map [3] which illustrates the impact of a so-called 1 in 100 year event but by 2100 this would affect Belfast every four years. What is today a rare occurrence will become much more commonplace."

Mr Allison warned that sea level rise would not affect everyone equally:

"Increased risk of flooding will have a disproportionate effect on those on low incomes who cannot access insurance cover or afford to move away from higher risk areas. Many of the areas at greatest risk of flooding already experience poverty and disadvantage, and flood risk will only make this worse."

Dr Hugh Ellis of the Town and Country Planning Association said that the planning system had an important role to play in responding to climate change:

"The planning system has a crucial role to play in reducing emissions and building the resilience of homes and communities. There is a growing realisation throughout the UK that the familiar regulatory planning system will become but one component of a wider spatial planning programme driven by a new sense of urgent purpose in delivery. The economic future of cities like Belfast will be directly related to success in developing low-carbon technology and in adapting to key climate impacts."

Speaking at today's event, Dr Ellis will focus on the scale of the challenge facing us on climate change and what the planning system can do to find real solutions. He will describe the work of a wide-ranging coalition which published a position statement for England on how planning can help communities reduce emissions and adapt to climate impacts.

Dr Ellis concluded:

"Today's conference should act as a wake-up call to Government. Much can be done, both to mitigate climate change and adapt to its unavoidable impacts. Government must task the planning system with the job of dealing with climate change. Indeed, climate change mitigation and adaptation must become the key purpose of the planning system."

Notes

[1] Today's conference is organised jointly by Friends of the Earth and the Town and Country Planning Association and is being held at W5 at The Odyssey, a venue chosen because of its vulnerability to sea level rise.

[2] A paper published by Rosenzweig and Solecki in 2001 suggests that, by the end of the century, today's 1 in 100 year flood event could occur every four years while Future Coast Scenarios published by The National Trust in 2007 suggests that today's 1 in 50 year flood event could occur annually.

[3] View the Rivers Agency Strategic Flood Map.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust