Category: "news"
It's getting Warmer...
...but the coral are alright! Worldwide, coral reefs have been badly damaged by rising sea surface temperatures. Bleaching - a process that can cause widespread coral death due to loss of the symbiotic algae that corals depend on for food - has been linked to warming waters. Some corals,... read more »
Shrinking Habitats
Shrinking habitats have adverse effects on world ecosystems, says a recent report from North Carolina State University. An extensive study of global habitat fragmentation -- the division of habitats into smaller and more isolated patches -- points to major trouble for a number of the world's ecosystems and the... read more »
New Climate Economy
The new climate economy report, 'Better Growth, Better Climate', by The Global Commission on the Economy & Climate is a major assessment, commissioned by governments and written by world-leading experts. It considers how best to achieve prosperity and development at the same time as reducing carbon emissions and adapting to... read more »
Blue Growth
Blue Growth is the long term European strategy to support sustainable growth in the coastal and maritime sectors as a whole. Seas and oceans are drivers for the European economy and have great potential for innovation and growth. It is the maritime contribution to achieving the goals of the Europe 2020... read more »
Integrated Water Management
Water and its effective management are vital to life and with better integration. There is a growing awareness of the important role of planning in joining up land use and water management. The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership have produced a report called 'Planning Advice for Integrated Water... read more »
Summer downpours
Extreme summer rainfall may become more frequent in the UK due to climate change, according to new research led by the Met Office in collaboration with Newcastle University. The new study uses a state-of-the-art climate model providing the first evidence that hourly summer rainfall rates could increase. While summers are... read more »
Tourism and Climate Change
A new document has been produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It is a summary of the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) on climate change aimed at the tourism sector. It was felt that the tourism sector could make more use of AR5, which is long and... read more »
Shifting Shores
Almost a decade ago the National Trust investigated how our coastline was likely to change over the next 100 years. Out of this research came the Shifting Shores report in 2005, which held one clear message — as a nation we can no longer build our way out of... read more »
Marine Plans
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO)published the first ever plans for the future of our seas. The East Inshore and East Offshore Marine Plans provide guidance for sustainable development in English waters, and cover the coast and seas from Flamborough Head to Felixstowe. Marine plans will inform and guide decisions... read more »
UK's Exceptional Weather
As the stormy weather continues, the National Climate Information Centre at the Met Office has looked at the historical records in an attempt to put the last 2 months into context. The Met Office News Blog has some interesting facts and figures for the weather seen nationally in the UK during December 2013... read more »
Marine species move north
According to new research rising ocean temperatures are rearranging the biological makeup of our oceans. Species are being pushed further north towards the poles by 4.4 miles every year as they seek out the climates in which they are best suited to survive. There will be undoubted implications for... read more »
Drainage Strategy Framework
The Drainage Strategy Framework is a joint Environment Agency and Ofwat document that sets out a framework for water and sewerage companies to prepare drainage strategies. A reliable sewerage network is a vital part of our national infrastructure. It is crucial for communities, the environment and the economy. A 2011... read more »
Eco Technology Show 2013
The Eco Technology Show took place this year at the Brighton Centre on 14th - 15th June. All sorts of new eco ideas ranging from buildings to concept cars were showcased. Follow this link to find out more about The Eco Technology Show and visit the show... read more »
Coastal Quality in The Hague
In July 2012 an international workshop about coastal quality took place in The Hague and was attended by one of the original MPP project leaders. A report has now been produced about that event. The organizing team based its workshop format on Going Dutch I and Going Dutch II, two international... read more »
MCZ Consultation
Defra has launched the consultation about the designation of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs). The intention is to engage with everyone who has an interest in the marine environment and coastal communities. It is the opportunity for people to influence the decisions on how and where many MCZs are designated. Consultation started: 13 December 2012 Consultation ends:... read more »
South Coast next Marine Plan
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has announced that the coast and seas from Dover to the River Dart in Devon will be the second area in England to benefit from marine planning. This will obviously include the Solent and the peninsula coastline. To read more follow this link to the... read more »
Good Beach Guide 2012
The silver anniversary edition of the Good Beach Guide, launched online by the Marine Conservation Society, has recommended 516 out of 754 (68%) UK bathing beaches tested last summer as having excellent water quality; this is a rise of 8% more than last year and the best in the... read more »
Flooding
For information about flooding and other emergencies see Chichester District Council's website: Flooding Sandbags For more information about flooding, including road closures, see the West Sussex County Council website: Flooding Flooding and road closuresread more »
Special Protection Areas for Seabirds
The EU Birds Directive requires the UK government to identify a network of Special Protection Areas (SPAs) to protect Europe’s rarest, most vulnerable and regularly-occurring migratory birds. Whilst the suite of SPAs on English land is well-established, further work is required to complete a network at sea in order to... read more »
Drought Update
The Environment Agency has produced a national update of the current water situation in the UK. Despite being the wettest April on record, the South East of England is still considered to be in a drought due to the lack of rainfall during the last couple of years. However the situation... read more »