The Environment Agency
has warned that protecting our environment
in the south east must remain a priority
through the economic downturn as it publishes
its State of the Environment Report today
The Environment Agency
has warned that protecting our environment
in the south east must remain a priority
through the economic downturn as it publishes
its State of the Environment Report today
(Friday 8 May 2009).
This year’s report shows
that whilst improvements have been made,
there are still some worrying trends and
the effects of climate change are already
being felt in the South East. Sea levels
in Sheerness, North Kent have risen by around
26cm since 1834 and the South East has had
the strongest increase in average monthly
temperatures of any region.
The State of the Environment
Report shows that despite these impacts,
since 2007, the South East has only increased
its capacity to produce renewable energy
by 1 per cent, falling well short of the
government’s target of 20.5 per cent by
2010. But with future investment and support
for renewable and low carbon energy projects,
there is an opportunity for the South East
to lead the way in developing new and innovative
technology that can be sold to others and
create much-needed jobs.
Harvey Bradshaw, Regional
Director for Environment Agency Southern
Region says: “The financial crisis is quite
rightly high on everyone’s agenda right
now, but with increasingly stark figures
on climate change, the environment must
remain a priority. Economic cycles will
come and go but our environment will always
be central to our long term success. If
we make the right decisions now, we can
use the opportunities presented by green
technology to emerge from the economic downturn
in a stronger position.“
The Environment Agency
says businesses in the South East can also
take measures to improve their green credentials
whilst becoming stronger and more competitive
in the process. The State of the Environment
Report shows electricity used by businesses
rose on average by 8.1 per cent, between
2003 and 2006. Since 2007 the region’s capacity
to produce renewable electricity has increased
by 1 per cent from 348,590 kW to 351,640
kW.
Harvey Bradshaw said:
“We have taken positive steps to reduce
our own carbon emissions at the Environment
Agency and we are helping many other businesses
in the region do the same. The good news
is it doesn’t have to be a choice between
environment and profit. Green business is
good business and those that manage their
environmental impact well are stronger and
more competitive. The savings that businesses
in our region have made speak for themselves
and the benefits to us all can be long-lasting.
If we take steps to protect and improve
our environment now we can all look forward
to a rich, healthy and diverse environment
for present and future generations.”
Environment Agency sets
out blueprint to breathe new life into our
iconic lakes
Lord Smith has said that urgent action is
needed to protect England's most famous
lakes from threats such as climate change
and pollution
+ More
Environment Agency sets
out blueprint to breathe new life into our
iconic lakes
England’s most famous
lakes such as Windermere and Grasmere are
facing serious threats from climate change,
non-native species and pollution from farming
and sewage, and need urgent action to protect
and restore them for future generations,
said Lord Chris Smith, Chairman of the Environment
Agency.
He announced that the
Environment Agency is undertaking an assessment
of around 730 of the most important lakes
across England and Wales that will need
to meet high standards under the Water Framework
Directive. The organisation is also taking
action to revive the life and health of
our lakes.
Speaking today (Tuesday)
at a conference, ‘Lakes for Living, Lakes
for Life’, Lord Smith stressed the important
and unique role that lakes play within the
natural environment, but highlighted the
poor health of some of our best known waters.
Many lakes are under
pressure from poor water quality which can
be down to pollution from pesticides and
fertilisers from farming, and sewage. Changing
weather patterns resulting from climate
change will bring challenges with drier
summers and wetter winters. Invasive species
such as Pigmyweed are also driving out native
species in and around lakes.
The conference, taking
place on the shores of Lake Windermere -
the largest lake in England and Wales -
brings together experts from across the
globe to discuss and agree plans to protect
and restore lakes. The area attracts eight
million tourists each year and provided
the inspiration for some of our most famous
poets and writers such as Wordsworth, Coleridge
and Ruskin. Despite being picturesque, Windermere
faces water quality issues which are having
a serious impact on life below the water’s
surface.
However it and other
lakes face serious environmental challenges
including:
• Impacts of pollution
from farming and sewage - pesticides and
fertilisers from farming in the Lake District
are contributing to regular blue-green algal
blooms which prevent people from going into
the water.
• Protecting fish and
other rare wildlife in the lakes - the vendace,
a rare fish species that has survived in
the Lake District since the ice age, were
recently near extinction in Bassenthwaite
Lake. They have been rescued and transferred
to Scottish lochs to ensure their survival.
• The threat from the
invasion of introduced species - the New
Zealand Pigmyweed imported in 1911 has escaped
from garden ponds into the lakes like Windermere
and is out-competing many native species.
The invasive weed smothers other plants
and tackling it requires chemical control.
• Impacts of climate
change - with climate change forecast to
bring more intense storms this creates the
potential for flooding, soil and pollution
washed off land into lakes, and even potential
for landslides.
Also this week, an historic
step forward will see Cumbria’s Lake Windermere
being twinned with the lake of the same
name in Canada. Jerry Taft, Mayor of Invermere,
British Columbia, Canada, will be signing
the Windermere Partnership agreement together
with the Environment Agency and Lake District
National Park. Under the new alliance, the
groups from the two countries will draw
on each others’ expertise and ideas sharing
both scientific information and cultural
heritage.
Tricia Henton, Director
of Environment and Business at the Environment
Agency, said:
"Whilst water quality
in our rivers has improved dramatically
over the past 20 years, lakes have faced
different, more complex environmental challenges.
"They are an important
part of our environment and every bit as
important as our rivers. They are invaluable
to tourism. That’s why the Environment Agency
and its partners are setting out a blueprint
to bring life back to our lakes, creating
a better environment for people and wildlife."
ENDS
Notes to editors:
• ‘Lakes for Living,
Lakes for Life’ - jointly hosted by the
Environment Agency and the Lake District
National Park - takes place between 18-21
May 2009 at the Low Wood Hotel on the shores
of Lake Windermere. The conference has been
made possible thanks to significant support
from United Utilities and the North West
Regional Development Agency. Visit www.lakesforliving.com
<http://www.lakesforliving.com> for
more information.
• The Environment Agency
is asking the public to give their views
on plans to improve waters including rivers
and lakes across England and Wales. To participate
in the consultation, which closes on 22
June 2009, visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wfd
<http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wfd>.
• Lord Chris Smith,
Chairman of the Environment Agency, Jerry
Taft, Mayor of Invermere, and Richard Leafe,
Chief Executive Lake District National Park
are available for interview on request through
the Press Office.
• Images available on
request from the Press Office.
Media enquiries: call
020 7863 8710 or outside normal office hours,
please contact the National Duty Press Officer
on 07798 882 092.
