North-West drought risk illustrates climate change adaptation challenge

Leading planning and sustainable development charity, the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA), has added its concerns to the water shortages in the North-West of England. 

Diane Smith, GRaBS (Green and Blue Space Adaptation in Urban Areas and Eco-towns) Project Manager said:

“Adapting our towns and cities to the impacts of climate change is one of the greatest challenges society faces today. The floods in Cockermouth illustrated the social and economic impacts of this urgent threat, particularly on the most vulnerable in our society.  The water shortages now being experienced demonstrate the extreme variation in the impacts of climate change.”

“The adaptation agenda has profound implications for urban development. Innovative spatial planning will be critical in introducing the measures required to help make our urban areas less vulnerable to a changing climate – measures such as green open space, green roofs, and sustainable urban drainage systems. Planning can, and must, address these issues if we are to achieve a fair and just outcome for all as well as resilient places. ”

The TCPA is Lead Partner in a European funded “Green and Blue Space Adaptation for Urban Areas and Eco Towns” (GRaBS) project – which sees 14 partners across 8 European Union member states exchanging experience, knowledge and assistance on delivering adaptation through the use of green and blue infrastructure. The project kicked off in September 2008, recognising that adaptation was an integral part of the sustainable development agenda, and its outputs have been central to the TCPA’s understanding of the issues. See www.grabs-eu.org for further information about the project, which has been co-financed by the European Union Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and made possible by the INTERREG IVC Programme.