England's flood and coastal erosion risk laid bare
Friends of the Earth has renewed its call for the government to strengthen its climate adaptation plans following new data from the Environment Agency showing 6.3 million properties across England are in areas at risk of flooding.
With the threat of flooding and coastal erosion escalating due to the climate crisis, Friends of the Earth, alongside two co-claimants whose lives are directly affected by rising global temperatures, is taking legal action against the government over its inadequate adaptation plans.
Friends of the Earth campaigner, Alison Dilworth, said:
“This report is yet another stark warning about the growing threat the climate crisis poses to people, homes and communities across the country – with the elderly, disabled and those living in vulnerable areas particularly in danger.
“The risk from floods and coastal erosion is growing, yet the government’s plan for dealing with increasingly extreme weather is completely inadequate.
“Labour agrees that the previous government's policies ‘have left Britain badly exposed’. Now it needs to fix this by strengthening the National Adaptation Programme, in consultation with the communities most impacted by the climate crisis.”
Earlier this month Friends of the Earth and two co-claimants submitted papers to the Court of Appeal [1] to continue their legal battle over the National Adaptation Programme. Their initial challenge was rejected by the High Court in October this year. The two claimants are:
Kevin Jordan, whose home in Hemsby, Norfolk was demolished in December 2023 after coastal erosion, fuelled by sea level rise and severe storms caused by climate change, left it in danger of falling into the sea.
Disability activist Doug Paulley, who has a number of health conditions which are being exacerbated by searing summer temperatures. He's concerned that the government’s current adaptation plans fail to consider the needs of disabled people – particularly in places such as care homes – putting him and others at risk.
ENDS