Climate change predictions indicate that rising sea levels and more frequent and severe rainstorms will increase the risk of flooding on a global scale. Management of land and river systems by building and maintaining flood and coastal defences is deemed essential but in the UK other preventative measures relating to inland flooding are subject to debate: dredging and pumping give benefit to a few but increase the speed of run off and risk of flooding to those downstream; counter proposals include making the uplands more water absorbent by, for example, reforestation, restoration of bogs, and more ponds, sluices and water storage projects. Inevitably, funding will be a major problem.
Speakers:
Science: Professor Paul Bates, Head of the School of Geographical Sciences at the University of Bristol.
Law: Matthew Townsend, Partner, Allen & Overy
Policy: Professor Edmund Penning-Rowsell OBE, Middlesex University.
Organised by Pamela Castle in conjunction with Sykes Environmental
For more information on the event and to view the speakers presentations see the website.
Background to Castle Debates
The purpose of the debates is to provide objective and factual clarification of selected current environmental issues. To this end, a panel of three experts addresses the applicable science, law and policy. Each speaker has 15 minutes to present and then the floor is open for a question-and-answer session from which a summary of the Debate is produced. Chaired by Pamela Castle OBE, they are held approximately on a monthly basis from October 2013 to June 2014 at various locations across London in association with Sykes Environmental and sponsored by Legal Sector Alliance and the ENDS Report.
Visit Castle Debates for more information and their up and coming events.
