Impacts of Climate Change

1. Impacts of Climate Change

2. Buildings need to be fit for purpose Buildings protect us from the weather and should provide safe and comfortable spaces for us to live and work. In the future our buildings will need to cope with more extreme weather events and longer term changes such as increased temperatures. Are our homes, schools, local shops and community buildings resilient to current weather and climate? Impacts of climate change

3. Helping nature to help us Changes in climate will alter our natural environment making it more difficult for some of our trees, plants, agricultural crops and animals to thrive. In some cases species may disappear altogether. This means that it is more important than ever for us to protect our natural environment, helping it to stay healthy and adapt to the changes ahead. How might the natural environment in our area by affected? Impacts of climate change

4. Managing water will become more complicated Increases in the number and intensity of heavy rainfall events could increase the risk of flooding along rivers and in areas where surface water cannot drain away. We may also experience times when rainfall is lower with the possibility of drought for some areas. Impacts of climate change

5. Rising seas threaten Scotland’s coastal communities and infrastructure Sea level rise may lead to widespread impacts particularly in areas of ‘soft’ coast with low lying sand dune systems or at river estuaries. Impacts could include increased risk of flooding, erosion, changes in sediment distribution and coastline retreat. Impacts of climate change

6. Climate change cause more disruption to transport and communication networks We’ve all heard about or experienced disruption when roads or railways are blocked by landslides or flooding and power or communication lines break down during severe weather events. This type of disruption may become more common as we experience more severe weather events as a result of climate change. How can we better be better prepared in the future? Impacts of climate change

7. Supporting those most at risk The impacts of climate change could make difficult situations such as dealing with poor quality housing or living with a debilitating illness more difficult. Who may be most affected by climate change in our community? Impacts of climate change

8. Next steps Group work How will the issues and features that we identified in the workshop 1 “Our place” activity be impacted by climate change? Impacts of climate change