Kent and climate change
The World Development Movement has published a map and data, clearly showing the very real affect that climate change could have in Kent, especially in Medway.
Kent climate change map
Current models for climate change predict that without serious action to cut emissions the sea-level in Kent could rise by 74cm by 2080. But this does not include the melting of land-based ice from the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets. Predictions that take the melting of the ice caps into account point towards a 5 metre sea-level rise by the end of this century
The dark purple areas on the map show that by the end of the century, the following areas could be below sea-level:
- some of Gravesend
- most of the Hoo peninsula, including the site of Kingsnorth
- parts of Stroud, Rochester and Gillingham around the river Medway
- most of the Isle of Sheppey, and Sheerness
- the coast from Ramsgate to Deal, including much of Sandwich
- an arc encompassing Romney Marsh from Hythe round to Winchelsea.
Although, some of the impacts of sea-level rise could be countered by increased flood defences, Kent County Council says that it will “become increasingly unsustainable, both economically and environmentally” to build and strengthen sea defences.
For more about the map, and how it was created see: http://www.wdm.org.uk/news/kentfacingclimatechange24062008.htm