COP26 climate summit host city Glasgow will require billions of pounds to tackle disruption from the adverse effects of climate heating, a study has found.
The study carried out by Climate Ready Clyde notes that the disruption could affect nearly two million people living in the greater Glasgow area, most harshly affecting around 140,000 residents thought to be least equipped to deal with potential heatwaves, flash floods and droughts.
It noted that in “all scenarios” the Glasgow City Region will experience increasing extreme weather, heavier winter rainfall, more frequent and extreme heatwaves and an increased likelihood of flooding among other climate events.
Before outlining plans to tackle the problems, Climate Ready Clyde found that seven in 10 adults in Scotland agreed that climate change is an immediate and urgent problem.
The study also noted eight in 10 adults agreed climate change will impact Scotland.
Climate Ready Clyde, a cross-sector initiative funded by the Scottish Government, hopes to achieve its vision for “a Glasgow City Region that flourishes in a future climate” by 2050.
In the mid-term, it notes 11 interventions to be made by 2030 including a “very strong” economic case to “enhance early warning and preparedness for floods and heatwaves” and, referred to as an “enabling activity”, “develop the ability of organisations, business and communities to adapt”.
In the short-term, more immediate effects between 2021-2025 would see policy frameworks being co-designed with communities and Glasgow City Region’s economy being reoriented to be net zero and climate resilient.
However, the study estimates the region would face a funding shortfall of £184 million a year when work begins to modify existing homes, offices, roads, railways and green spaces against climate change.
The paper outlines sources of funding for each of the 11 interventions, which involves a mix of grants, debt, equity and tax to raise debt with an emphasis on utilising available public funds to target “essential” public services.
It will also be possible at early stages to fund “interventions that can lever in new private sector investments” which “can create further economic opportunities and help drive green job creation”.
Chair of the coalition James Curran said climate change “exacerbated existing inequalities” noting that the inequalities already existing in society would worsen without a “coherent and urgent” response.
He said: “Some of the people who can least afford it and are least culpable in creating climate change are the ones that are going to suffer more with poor housing; they will be suffering damp in the winter; they’ll be suffering excessive heat in the summer; public transport will be disrupted.”
Climate Ready Clyde said Glasgow City Region’s first regional Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan is a “bold and ambitious statement of the different future we want, to ensure the City Region flourishes in its future climate.
“Its intention is to be a catalyst; a call to action for all organisations, communities and businesses with a stake in Glasgow City Region to step forward and step up as required.”
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