Download The Ethical Framework - Chief Fire Officers Association

Risk and Environment
Paul Hayden MA, MSc, MIFireE
Chief Officer / Chief Executive
Hereford & Worcester Fire and
Rescue Service
Climate Change: Risk Impact
Practical Impacts
“The atmosphere isn’t warming, and if it is,
then its down to natural variations; and
even if its not down to natural variations,
then the amount of warming is
insignificant; and if it becomes significant,
then the benefits will outweigh the
problems, and even if they don’t,
technology will come to the rescue; and
even if it doesn't, we shouldn’t risk
wrecking the economy because some of
the science is uncertain!”
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Definitions of key terms
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INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE [IPCC]
Climate change in IPCC usage refers to any change in climate
over time, whether due to natural variability or as a result of
human activity.
Adaptive capacity is the ability of a system to adjust to climate
change (including climate variability and extremes) to
moderate potential damages, to take advantage of
opportunities, or to cope with the consequences.
Vulnerability is the degree to which a system is susceptible to,
or unable to cope with, adverse effects of climate change,
including climate variability and extremes.
Climate sensitivity, vulnerability and
adaptation
New critical threshold
New coping range
Climate variable
Vulnerability
Critical threshold
Coping range
Past
Present
Lag
Decision
to adapt
Future
Implementation
of adaptation
Planning time horizon
Slide courtesy of UKCIP
Time
What is Climate Change Adaptation?
Adaptation
measures to moderate and cope with climate
change impacts
not a one-off activity, but a continuous and
incremental set of activities.
Physical actions e.g:
raising the height of sea defences
Increasing ventilation / cooling in buildings
Building ‘Adaptive Capacity’ e.g:
Raising awareness of impacts
Tools / context etc for decision makers
Why do we need Adaptation?
Adaptation
Climate change is already happening
Stopping GHGs today will not prevent it
CC over next 30-50 yrs due to historic emissions
We need to:
Adaptation
Build ‘adaptive capacity’
Identify priorities for adaptation
Identify actions that will improve the resilience of:
Development,
Services,
Infrastructure,
Communities,
The Economy,
the ‘Natural’ environment
FRS Practical Impacts
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FRS must act to reduce the impact of its activities on the
Environment.
However, regardless of any action we take, our organisations
and services will be impacted by climate change in at least 5
key areas over the next 50 years;
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
High Summer Temperatures
Floods
Drought
Storms
Social Impact - Migration
High Summer Temperatures
Drought
Storm
Flood
Migration
CFOA Partnerships
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FRS / EA Strategic Partnership -Strategic Group, Tactical
Group, Environmental Protection, flooding & PPS 25
CFOA Inland Water Strategic & Tactical Group
UK SAR Strategic Group & Tactical Group
Defra Flood Rescue Capabilities Program
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Extreme Weather Events, SME’s / Householder adaptation
Various University Research Projects
EU Flood Command
EU Flood Ex 2009
US FEMA & DHS Major Flood Programs
If you are Interested in any of the above, please get in
touch!