Welsh Conservative Shadow Climate Change Minister, Janet Finch-Saunders MS, has asked the Welsh Government to review the risk of flooding in Wales following recently published research.
The study, led by the University of Bristol and global water risk modelling leader Fathom, reveals the first-ever dataset to assess flood hazard using the most recent Met Office climate projections which factor in the likely impact of climate change.
Its findings show the forecasted annual increase in national direct flood losses, defined as physical damage to property and businesses, due to climate change in the UK can be kept below 5% above recent historical levels.
Commenting on the study’s findings, Janet said:
“The latest findings by the Bristol University research team should hugely concern us all.
“We have already seen the devastating effects of recent floods, and the future is only likely to be worse.
“If the COP26 and Net Zero promises are not collectively met, the study shows the annual cost of flooding in the UK over the next century could grow by between 13% and 23%, depending on different levels of climate extreme projections.
“I urge the Welsh Government to take heed of this study, and to urgently update Wales’ Flood Risk Maps to reflect this newly available data.”
