Coastal Problems in the UK

 

Coastal erosion has been an issue for the United Kingdom for many years, but climate change has sped up this problem. This causes people to lose their homes, businesses, and land. According to the Committee on Climate Change, “The UK will almost certainly have to adapt to at least one meter of sea-level rise at some point in the future; even a 0.5-meter rise is projected to make a further 20 % of England’s coastal defenses vulnerable to failure” (Rowe). The BGS data states that 1 million properties are at risk by the year 2050. 

Different areas of the UK have put prevention and awareness into action. In Scotland, there are billions put into place to protect water supply lines, airport runways and railroad tracks. There have been enhancements of salt marshes and sand dunes. This is because, “sandbars can take a big chunk of energy out of the waves before they hit the shore” (Rowe). In St Andrews they have reinforced dunes by burying Christmas trees within the dunes and marram grass planted on top to reinforce them against the waves. There has also been a lot of concern with raising awareness, so people understand the urgency of this problem.

Reference: The rising threat of UK coastal erosion - Geographical