Joint BIC action on changing climate

RISING sea levels and more-frequent storms resulting from climate change could have a serious impact on Guernsey's economy, community and environment. The British-Irish Council yesterday agreed to publish a paper on adapting to climate change.

Chief Minister Laurie Morgan and Environment minister Bernard Flouquet attended the BIC summit in London, which was hosted by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

The council also agreed to look at ways in which governments, agencies and researchers across the region could carry out further work together to improve the understanding of climate change scenarios.

'The BIC provides an excellent avenue for joint working in this important area,' said Deputy Morgan.

'We have a special interest in the sea and are acutely aware of the serious impacts that rising sea levels and increased storm frequencies could have.'

As a result of the BIC's work, he said that the island had the best information on climate change scenarios, which would be invaluable in the future.

Deputy Flouquet welcomed further research and information on the subject.

'Not only will climate change impact on important sectors of our economy such as tourism, horticulture and fisheries, it is also of prime importance to our lifeline transport links and, of course, impacts on the development of the built environment and flood plain management,' he said.

'In this respect, cross-sectoral examination of potential impacts and adaptation strategies and policies is of great benefit to Guernsey. We very much welcome the opportunity to contribute at the local regional level.'

In 2003 the BIC published a set of climate change scenarios covering the region.

The meeting agreed to several new areas of cooperation and information-sharing between members, including:

* the sharing of good practice through an adaptation case study database.

* a BIC workshop on the development of adaptation strategies.

* a working group on indicators of impacts and adaptation.

* The BIC was established under the historic Good Friday Agreement. Members are the Irish and British Governments, the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and representatives from the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey.