Extreme weather summit to address adapting to ... - News - STV

Scotland must find ways of adapting to a new and challenging climate, Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead has said.

The country's climate has changed over the past few decades, with weather now more severe and wetter. There was around a third more rain than the average annual amount between 1961 to 1990 in 2001.

A number of key bodies are to discuss how Scotland could be better prepared for extreme weather at a summit on Monday.

Representatives from the Met Office, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Environment LINK, farming trade body NFU Scotland and the Scottish Flood Forum will all take part in the talks in the Scottish Parliament.

The summit takes place at the start of Climate Change Week.

Mr Lochhead said: "By working together collectively, we can strengthen Scotland's resilience to the impacts of climate change and help our communities to be better prepared for extreme weather events.

"Scotland's climate is changing. Over the last few decades it has got warmer, precipitation patterns have changed and there has been an increased frequency of extreme weather events. Rainfall in 2011 was 36% more than was the average for the period 1961 to 1990.

"Recent unpredictable weather has had a major impact on many aspects of our society, from damage to property and agricultural land to pressure on water resources and energy demands, affecting people's daily lives and highlighting the need for immediate action to adapt to the impacts of climate change."

A recent draft report from the Scottish Government set out how climate change targets could be met.

Mr Lochhead said: "We must also find ways to adapt to our new and challenging climate. We need organisations, businesses, communities and individuals across Scotland to play their part to ensure we put in place measures that are effective and flexible enough to prevent even more severe climate change and adapt to changes that we inevitably face."

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Source: http://news.stv.tv/politics/216091-extreme-weather-summit-to-address-adapting-to-climate-change/

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