According to the head of Environment Agency, it could become too costly to protect homes that are at risk of flooding and coastal erosion from the impacts of climate crisis.
Emma Howard Boyd narrated The Times This could lead to the need to sacrifice houses.
It is a result of the Environmental Agency, which oversees England’s environment protection, declaring last year that traditional flood defenses would not be capable of preventing all flooding and coastal erosion.
It also warned of the climate crisis which leads to heavier rain and rising sea levels, as well as the increasing risk of flooding in the UK.
Last summer London was badly affected by flooding. Earlier in the year, Storm Christoph had flooded hundreds of homes in North and West England. Despite all this, Happisburgh in Norfolk fought against coastal erosion.
Ms. Howard Boyd narrated.The TimesWe will have to continue evaluating whether we as a nation can afford to protect different areas of the landscape.
Although the Environment Agency encourages residents in flood zones to rebuild their homes, such as by installing electrical sockets, its chair said that it might become necessary over time to rebuild better places because of the climate crisis.
She stated that there was no doubt that certain areas of the country are more vulnerable to the climate crisis.
Research last year showed that thousands of homes had been granted planning permission despite their being in flood-prone areas.
The government announced that it would invest 5.2 billion to better protect homes and businesses from coastal erosion and flooding over the next six-year period. This scheme will increase defenses for more 300,000.
