Flooding

If ocean and air temperatures increase, polar ice will continue to melt causing sea levels to rise further. Low lying areas in the UK will be at risk from flooding, particularly coastal areas in Norfolk and Suffolk and cities including London, Hull and Portsmouth. It is out control, what we should do?



Rising sea levels are already forcing people to leave their homes. By 2050, as a result of rising sea levels, Friends of the Earth expect permanent flooding and shortages of food and fresh water to force the relocation of more than 150 million people. In Bangladesh, where half the population lives less than five metres above sea level, a 1% increase in global average temperatures will trigger a loss of 10% of all land area – and create a further 30 to 40 million refugees.





With higher average temperatures and long periods of drought the risk of wildfires or bushfires as they are called in Australia, increases significantly. As well as the risk of human fatality they also destroy agriculture and ultimately the ability of people to live in some areas. Although the most recent bushfires in Australia were blamed on arsonists, temperatures of around 117F (47C), the drought-ridden land and high winds contributed to the rapid spread of the fires across the three states in the country.