Social and economic effects

Climate change will have significant effects on life here in the UK, both in terms of the changing weather patterns we are expected to experience, and other, global influences.

Health risks

Although warmer winters will continue to reduce the number of cold-related deaths, other health problems will emerge as weather patterns shift. For example, in summer, more frequent thunderstorms are likely to combine with high pollen counts to cause more acute asthma epidemics, as will increased street level air pollution in cities on dry, sunny days. Heat stress will also be a risk particularly for older people and those living in urban environments. Hotter weather will increase problems such as food poisoning and insect-related conditions like diarrheoa. Flooding will bring risks of more water-borne diseases as well as increased anxiety and depression from lost or damaged homes.

Disruption

The more extreme weather will cause increasing disruption to daily life. Emergency services will be put under more strain and transport and other systems such as water and power supplies are likely to be interrupted. UK agriculture will also be affected; by severe soil erosion from heavier rain and flooding and, with hotter temperatures, the introduction of new pests and diseases and survival of more of our existing pests through milder winters.

Structural damage

Storms and flooding are likely to cause significant damage to buildings and other structures. Nearly two million properties in floodplains along rivers, estuaries and coasts in the UK are potentially at risk of flooding. Those at risk of having their homes flooded in the UK could rise from 1.6 million people to around 3.3 million by 2050. As properties in high risk flood areas become less attractive to live in and difficult to insure, pressure on other areas will increase.

Economic effects

OFGEM, the UK’s energy regulator, expects the cost of energy to rise by 14-25% between 2010 and 2020, with sharp spiked increases of up to 60% within this period. Knock on effects of climate-related trends in other parts of the world are also likely to interrupt or destroy supply chains and drive up the cost of many other products.

Immigration

Climate change will displace millions of people across the world as areas hit hardest by related trends become uninhabitable. International migration will constitute a small percentage of the overall movement. But it is impossible to predict where climate migrants will go and there is a possibility that we could see a major increase in immigration into the UK.

The implications for your organisation

How might the more extreme weather we are likely to face and the wider social and economic effects of climate change impact on your beneficiaries and operations? How will you need to adapt to operate in a low carbon society?