One of the most important research contracts to be commissioned by SCOPAC has been led by Halcrow Maritime in partnership with the Universities of Newcastle-upon Tyne and Portsmouth and the Meteorological Office. The purpose of the study is to assess the impacts of predicted climate change on the central south coast of England from Lyme Regis to Shoreham-by-SEa, including the Isle of Wight and its coastal waters. SCOPAC requires the Project Team to undertake a series of key research tasks including:-

• Making estimates of climate change over the next 80 years
• Developing an understanding of the generic impacts of climate change on the coast
• Determining the vulnerability, hazard and risk along the SCOPAC coastline.
• Identifying requirements for informing coastal planning and management of climate change impacts.
• Specifying information requirements and a framework for information collection and exchange.

The tasks will be approached first by a review of existing climate change studies and utilising data from Meteorological Office climate change mode;ls in order to identify and characterise the likely future scenarios for the SCOPAC coast. It will then be necessary to assess the implications of climate change for coastal conditions and hence coastal processes, as well as examining the impact of these changed coastal processes on coastal resources in the SCOPAC region.

A key issue is the need to review current administrative frameworks in order to identify constraints to effective risk management. A series of recommendations for improved management systems and impact indicators will be presented.

Robin Mcinnes, Chairman of SCOPAC Officers Working Group, said "SCOPAC believes that the question of climate change impacts is probably the most important issue to be faced by coastal local authorities and the communities they represent, alongside other organisations with an interest in the coastal zone. It is essential to carry out research and investigation into this subject now in order that appropriate decision-making can be implemented through the planning and political processes. It is important for us to understand how Government (national, regional and local) needs to respond to climate change impacts in the short, medium and long term. We need to establish what kind of flexible, rolling programmes need to be implemented at the different administrative levels to assist future coastal planning and shoreline management."

The £50,000 project which commenced in August, will be completed in one year. SCOPAC is considering hosting a one day conference on climate change to coincide with the publication of the final report next Autumn.

For further information E-mail: robin.mcinnes@iow.gov.uk

More information

If you would like more information about SCOPAC and its activities, write to:

Mr. J Pulsford, Secretary to the Conference, County Hall, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO38 1UD or telephone Barbara Herbert on (01983) 823282

E-mail: www.scopac.org.uk

News, views and ideas for the future issues of this newsletter will be warmly welcomed.