Climate Change and the UK

Temperatures for the UK are forecast to rise by an average 0.4 degrees per decade. However the increase will not be evenly spread. The South East will see the biggest increase and the North West the least.

People

Climate change will create refugees from low-lying parts of the world as sea levels rise, in areas like Bangladesh, Pacific Island and Holland. Even some parts of the UK will be affected such as the low-lying parts of Norfolk and the Scilly Islands off Cornwall. Drought in Southern Europe will add to the numbers of refugees. People may be less likely to go abroad for their holidays if there are warmer temperatures here. Skiing holidays may become a thing of the past as the snow line creeps every higher up mountains. Public transport will be affected if rails buckle in the heat, and parts of the London Underground become unbearably hot.

Weather

There is already noticeably less snowfall in Britain. Summers are getting drier, and winters wetter. Overall however there will be 5% less rainfall than at present, 20% less in the South East. The rainfall pattern may be more erratic, with heavier downpours and flash flooding, exacerbated by house building on flood plains and the trend for paving over front gardens. There will be a threat that a freak storm could overwhelm the Thames Barrier, as storms get more frequent and more powerful.

Nature

There will be a risk of malaria taking a hold in Britain. Food poisoning outbreaks may become more frequent. It is predicted that the South of England will become too warm for nuthatches, capercaillie and the dotterel. Some species of butterfly will find it impossible to change their range and be wiped out. White sharks may frequent our shores, along with tropical fish and octopus.  Lowland pine forest may die out from lack of rain, as will ash trees. Beech trees may find the South too warm but flourish further North. Plants like blackberries that require frosts will affect fruit production. Bluebells may suffer, but bracken and gorse will spread to higher slopes.

Health

There will fewer cold-related deaths in the winter, but a risk of more deaths from excessive summer heat, and higher levels of skin cancer as people spend more time outdoors in the hot weather.

Agriculture

Yields of crops such as winter wheat may increase due to higher levels of carbon dioxide. Some crops such as oilseed rape may be difficult to grow, but crops such as sunflowers, maize, and vines will be increasingly popular. Peaches and lupins may be common on the south coast. Yields of hay may reduce if drier summer weather means grass grows more slowly.