Environmental change and climate adaptation challenges

Environmental change is one of the most pressing challenges facing the city. This includes changing weather patterns as a result of global environmental change, with perhaps the greatest threats for Belfast being associated with flash flooding and sea level rise. Other threats include climate warming and more frequent and severe storms. A sustainable development approach is required to mitigate against and adapt to the environmental challenges affecting the city. Mitigation seeks to address the root causes of environmental change, by reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions (GHG). Adaptation seeks to lower the risks posed by the consequences of environmental change by ensuring that new development is resilient in facing new climate challenges. Both approaches are necessary, because even if emissions are dramatically decreased in the next decade, adaptation will still be needed to deal with the global changes that have already been set in motion. Belfast has had direct experience of extreme weather patterns and rising sea levels in recent years. The impact of flooding on individual households, communities and businesses can be devastating and costly. The effects on human activity are wide ranging, with the potential to cause fatalities and injury, displacement, pollution and ill-health. Damage to buildings, can severely compromise economic and social activities. Extreme weather resulting in flooding of properties and infrastructure is expected to be a significant long term risk associated with environmental change.