Alan Simpson: SCOTLAND’S four largest cities must improve coastal defences and should consider planting thousands of trees to combat the effects of climate change by 2050, according to a new report. People living in most of the world’s cities face problems caused by rising temperatures including heatwaves, flooding, water shortages and blackouts by mid-century without urgent action to curb greenhouse gases. It is “the future that nobody wants” warns the study by C40 Cities, a group of cities taking action on climate change, the Global Covenant of Mayors, the Urban Climate Change Research Network and climate advisory company Acclimatise. But authorities in cities around the world are taking steps to protect their citizens from the impacts of climate change, the study said. Rising sea levels, storm surges and more rain mean Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee face the threat of tidal, river and flash flooding. But they are also vulnerable to overheating and drought-like conditions, while hotter summers increase demand for air conditioning and puts more pressure on energy supplies. UK power plants supplying Scotland are predominantly located around the coast and are vulnerable to flooding which could lead to blackouts, while electricity substations in the cities are also at risk of local floods, the report said.
Herald 19th June 2018 read more »
