BUSINESS CONTINUITY
involves better planning through sharing intelligence, adapting to climate change, applying resilience measures and mitigating disasters.
We are already helping local authorities to meet the challenges of weather and climate change. Risks in the future, such as flooding and heat stress, are likely to change. The effects of climate change can be seen in extreme weather events. There have been more extremely warm temperatures recorded worldwide and heavier rainfall events in many regions over land.
Evidence that periods of heavy rain are getting heavier, is entirely consistent with our understanding of the physics
been developed by working with health professionals, academics, other experts and patients. To help keep people safe, a Heat- Health Watch system operates in England and Wales from 1 June to 15 September each year in association with the Department of Health and the Welsh Assembly.
The Heat-Health Watch system has four levels of response based upon threshold maximum daytime and minimum night- time temperatures. The Met Office notifies the Department of Health and other organisations with Heat-Health Watch, including local authorities, immediately when it is forecast that there is a 60 per cent chance that threshold temperatures will be exceeded for any one region.
EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS COULD BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND WE ALL NEED TO PREPARE SO WE ARE READY TO RESPOND
of the atmosphere, in which warmer air holds more moisture. Our climate change projections support the emerging trend in observations and show a clear intensification of extreme rainfall events in a warmer world.
In England and Wales more than 2,000 people died during the heatwave in the summer of 2003. We can expect more extreme high temperatures as the climate changes. Such extreme events not only lead to loss of life, asset damage as well as social and commercial disruption, but are expected to grow in intensity and frequency as our climate changes.
Our health forecasting services have been developed in order to mitigate the impact of weather on people’s health and healthcare services. They have
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A warning will also be broadcast to the public via television and radio weather reports.
Emergency response organisations are the main responders to weather-related incidents. As severe weather events become more frequent in the UK, it’s essential for emergency responders to consider the impacts of climate change as part of their strategic planning.
The Met Office has already worked with the West Midlands Fire Service when they decided to consider the impacts of climate change on its operations. WMFS asked the Met Office to focus on two key risks – surface water flooding and secondary fires (reportable fires that do not involve property and do not involve casualties or rescues).
The project increased understanding of the weather and climate conditions and vulnerability factors that contributed to these risks, by establishing historical patterns of extremes, and assessing geographical trends in vulnerability.
Using our observation data, and the UK Climate Predictions 2009, key sensitivities to weather were identified and analysed to understand how risks could change in the future. We provide a range of projections using cutting-edge science from the UKCP09. Developed by the world-leading Met Office Hadley Centre, UKCP09 uses probabilities when talking about climate change – making it possible to assign a likelihood of a particular risk. Through the UKCP09, we have provided the world’s most comprehensive regional climate projections.
The West Midlands Fire Service benefited from the Met Office’s Climate Impacts and Risk assessment Framework. The CIRF guides the assessment of and adaptation to weather and climate related risks. The Met Office was able to identify the impacts of climate change so that they can be avoided or minimised.
This made it possible for the WMFS to develop
recommendations for adaptation strategies and make appropriate plans to cope with future risks caused by climate change.
We have also assessed the impact of climate change on the transport network, with Met Office consultants working with Dorset County Council on the future impacts on their road network. A scoping study into the impact of climate change on Dorset’s road network enables the local authority to better
prepare for future extreme events and keep roads open. Sharing information and skills between government agencies helps meet the challenges of climate change and further increase resilience. One example is the Flood Forecasting Centre that brings together the Environment Agency’s expertise in studying water at, and below, ground level with the Met Office’s capabilities in forecasting the rain and sea- levels.
Traditionally, these phenomena had been treated separately, but joined-up has led to better flood prediction. Bringing together expertise, data and information in our climate forecasts, advice and information can help organisations with longer-term planning and decision making.
By warning of hazardous events, the likely impact in terms of casualties, disruption and economic loss, the Met Office helps to ensure the continuity of vital services.
Extreme weather events could become more frequent and we all need to prepare so we are ready to respond.
With a proven track record of helping improve the durability and effectiveness of public services that protect lives and property, the Met Office can help local authorities to be more resilient to the risks of climate change.
To avoid paying the price, all of us, including local authorities, must prepare and respond to the challenges of a changing climate.
By maintaining a close
relationship with the Met Office, local authorities can ensure pubic safety and business continuity – however the climate changes and whatever the weather throws at us.
Nov/Dec 10
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