As our climate continues to change, we will need to make adjustments - we are already seeing significant flooding events in Chesterfield, as well as hotter days in summer.
Future changes to the climate depend on how quickly humans act to change our activity, but current projections suggest that we can expect average summer temperatures in the borough to increase by between 1.6°C and 6.3°C by 2080 (when compared to pre-industrial levels). We can also expect winter rainfall to increase by between 6% and 56% over the same period.
You can find more information about the changes we can expect to see from the Met Office.
We need to take action to protect our borough and communities against the impacts of climate change.
Below we have listed some things you could do now to prepare for and live with the impacts of climate change. Where helpful, we have included links to international information as well as that supplied by UK agencies. Please note these are not intended to be substitutes for advice in emergency situations.
We need to use water more efficiently, so we don’t waste what we have.
Many systems already exist to save water, and we can learn from countries which have drier climates than ours. Some ideas include:
- reduce overall water consumption – take shorter showers, turn off taps, use washing machines and dishwashers when full
- check your plumbing – check for leaks and help ensure they are fixed quickly
- use water saving devices – many water suppliers offer water-saving devices, like tap aerators and cistern bags, for free or subsidised
- install a water butt – store rainwater to water your garden or wash your car
- lose the hose – stop using hose pipes to water plants and consider using drought friendly plants
Find out more ways you can save water.
Find out more about UK’s domestic water use.
You can check whether you’re in an area that is at risk of flooding on the Government’s flood warning information service website. It is good to check this even if you’re a long way from a watercourse, because it includes flooding from both surface water, and rivers.
Things you can do to reduce the risk of flooding include:
- flood-proof your home and garden – use permeable paving and surfaces to ensure rainwater can soak into the ground
- plant trees – tree canopies can help slow the effects of intense rain
- store water – using a water butt can reduce the amount of water drains have to cope with
- check drains - blocked drains can lead to unpredictable consequences in particularly heavy rainfall, you can report blocked drains using the form on the Derbyshire County Council website
We are used to gales in the UK, but we may see an increase in frequency and intensity of storms.
Other countries regularly experience much worse conditions than we see here and have produced good guidance on how to prepare:
- keep on top of property maintenance - the HomeOwners Alliance has developed a guide for house maintenance
- dead or dying trees are particularly vulnerable to gales, and you may find that they need to be felled for safety reasons - the Government have developed a guide on tree health
- high winds frequently cause damage by flinging debris and garden objects around - this may be something as simple as a bin, sandpit lid, or fence panel
Over the coming years, we can expect more frequent intense heatwaves than we are used to. These can have a severe impact on health, particularly in the very young and in the elderly.
Passive cooling
This includes ventilation, shade, and evaporative cooling – where no or only energy from the sun or wind is involved.
This can be designed into new buildings or retrofitted to existing structures.
Alternatively, trees, shrubs, and green walls or roofs can also provide a number of these functions. Planting for shade may become more important as the climate changes.
Active cooling
This includes air conditioning and fans, which require energy to run. It is already widespread among offices and shops in the UK, but may become more attractive as summer temperatures rise.
But, these technologies can lead to greenhouse emissions if the electricity used to run the unit is not green or due to leaking refrigerants.
Wildlife everywhere is in decline.
This is caused by a combination of climate change, pollution, habitat loss, over exploitation, and harsh chemicals use in agriculture. We all depend on the natural world for our health and wellbeing, and we should all be doing what we can to help the natural world. Key actions include:
- make your space environmentally friendly - this may be the introduction of plant species which benefit wildlife, avoiding pesticide and herbicide use, installing of nesting or roosting space, or a digging a pond
- wildlife habitat - we need to make sure that wildlife can access existing and new habitat, joining habitat to make wider networks is valuable, you can find ideas of how to promote wildlife in your garden from RHS
- avoid peat-based composts - these result in habitat loss from bogs where they are sourced, and emit carbon, which would otherwise have been stored indefinitely
Visit Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s – Take Action page for actions, toolkits and resources.