CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE COST OF FLOODING

Early day motion 1439, tabled 9 May 2007 by Colin Challen (Labour). Signed by 59 members.

That this House observes that action needs to be taken now to combat the devastating potential effects of flooding upon homeowners, businesses and local authorities; notes the findings of the Foresight - Future Flooding study from the Office of Science and Technology that, if no action is taken, the annual cost of damage in England and Wales due to coastal flooding is likely to increase by between £1.0 billion and £13.5 billion by the end of this century, depending on the rates of socio-economic and climate change; welcomes the observation by Sir Nicholas Stern that `Adaptation is the only response available for the (climate change) impacts that will occur over the next several decades before mitigation measures can have an effect ... (and that) governments can contribute through long-term policies for climate-sensitive public goods, including ... coastal protection and emergency preparedness'; recognises that Government funding of flood management has, after the necessary and welcome real terms rise of 35 per cent. from 1997 to 2005, remained almost flat since 2005, at a little over £570 million per year; further notes the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Report on the Environment Agency, published in May 2006, which concluded that flood defence spending should rise to £1 billion per year in the long term; and therefore calls upon the Government to commit itself to a sustained year-on-year growth in spending on flood management in the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review.

Signatures by party: Labour 44, Liberal Democrat 8, Conservative 3, Plaid Cymru 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2.