Following our previous blog post which began our mini-series looking at potential changes in the business environment for consultants, part 2 will look at flooding and energy and think a little about opportunities and threats for business and the environment.
Flooding
Recent years have seen the Environment Agency (EA) issue the highest number of flood warnings in its history. Flooding is likely to increase as extreme weather events become more frequent due to climate change. Increasingly consultants will need to be aware of the potential effects of flooding when carrying out EIAs or designing mitigation. However, government cuts to services including the EA and DEFRA could affect its flood risk management and maintenance abilities. Opportunities may arise for the private sector to fill the void.
EA figures suggest a huge rise in spending is required on flood defenses. These projects could cause a lot of damage to coastal environments. However, if they are not built, then the implications for flooding, habitat loss and property damage could be even worse. Either way, consultants will need consultation! EIA and ecological impact assessment (EcIA) will remain very important parts of the process.
Flooding presents the wider issue of existing residential and business property becoming uninhabitable. Tidal river and sea front real estate may lose value due to the increased flood risk and planning authorities and construction companies will need to look away from these areas for development. This may bring developments into conflict with designated areas such as SAC’s and SSSIs. It remains to be seen if post-Brexit Britain will retain key elements of environmental protection afforded to such sites…
Mitigation planning and (in particular) long-term monitoring are currently not given enough attention. There is a lack of legislation and a lack of scientific understanding within local government when considering the implications of habitat or ecosystem loss or the long-term effects. Will Brexit force developers to monitor the success or failure of their mitigation projects or will ‘cutting the red tape’ simply mean they do not have to?
Energy
According to the Department of Energy & Climate Change, the UK has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to 80% of 1990 levels by 2050 and aims to transform the UK economy while ensuring secure, low-carbon energy supplies. At the same time, the government seems intent on pushing forward with plans to develop the fracking industry, despite its dubious economic benefits and its clear contradiction with the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions targets. Large anti fracking protests continue to be held throughout the UK which highlights the concern surrounding the controversial methods used by fracking. This indicates that there is more environmental consultation and data collection required before any widespread roll out of fracking can take place with backing from the public.
As wind energy becomes more competitive, there is still a lack of investment in the sort of infrastructure required to actually use wind energy to fully power the nation. On a smaller scale, individuals and businesses have benefited from on-site renewables to supply their energy needs. This reduces their reliance on the national grid, avoids energy price rises and helps them become more sustainable. Wind turbines on farms and solar arrays on factory roofs have become fairly common as the cost of the technology comes down. However, subsidies for many renewables have been cut which reduces the attractiveness to potential investors.
In spite of the relative lack of progress and investment on large scale renewables in the UK, there are glimmers of hope that a greener agenda will become more prominent. Despite the media fixation on Brexit and Tory Vs Labour party politics, the Green Party have a growing membership and a progressive outlook and punch above their weight in pushing a green agenda. A difficult task in a media environment which is at best, apathetic…
The IMF is talking about the cost of externalities (e.g. pollution and climate change) from fossil fuels being taxed in the future. Although still in their early stages, these types of ideas are increasingly discussed, in ten years’ they could be a reality. This could be a real driver for change in the EC industry as businesses are forced to go green to tackle their contributions to a warming climate.
Click here for Part 3 of this article which will look at industry ‘going green’. Click here for part 1.
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