A NEW report produced by the Canal & River Trust aims to show how vital the UK’s waterway network can be as the Government tries to tackle climate change.
The 30-page Climate Adaptation Report spells out how important canals and waterways are and how they can be part of action against problems such as storms, flooding and drought, which have badly affected areas of the UK.
It highlights how the 2000 miles of canals and waterways, and 84 reservoirs, across England and Wales have adapted from their original roles and can now become a vital infrastructure as the country deals with climate change threats.
The report also claims the charity will need an extra £15 million a year to combat global warming.
Richard Parry, chief executive of Canal & River Trust, said: “Our historic canal network fulfils a range of uses far beyond what was anticipated when the canals were first dug by hand. Many people don’t realise that these man-made waterways carry out so many important functions and need constant care and maintenance to keep them open and available to all. Linking towns and cities across the country and on the doorstep of millions of people, it is important for canals to be part of the Government’s national climate change reporting framework.”
Richard Parry, chief executive of Canal & River Trust, continued: “The challenge of keeping this network resilient and safe in the face of rising climate impact will require ongoing investment but it will deliver many times more benefit to society as we collectively face this unprecedented challenge.”
The report, which has been submitted to the Government, states that the canal network was the most important infrastructure project of its day, making the Industrial Revolution possible. It says: “A legacy of that pioneering engineering, today’s navigable canals continue to be repurposed and are at the heart of many communities, providing a range of economic, social and environmental benefits on the doorstep of around 10 million people.
“The places around canals have also changed beyond recognition and continue to be a focus for development and regeneration, making the canal network an enabler for growth. Meanwhile, the canals themselves are vital conduits for critical national infrastructure including pipes and cables for the UK’s energy, telecommunications and water supply networks.”
The Climate Adaptation Report provides evidence into how climate change affects the canal network and its associated structures and habitats, now and in the future. It shares the top 12 biggest risks, including flooding, drought, subsidence, structural damage and ecological degradation, and describes how the Canal & River Trust manages them, illustrated by case studies.
In helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change, the report shows how the canal network could deliver more water to areas that will experience significant water deficit in the years to come and, during storms, how canals could move flash floods away to reduce risk to neighbouring properties. In towns and cities canals may mitigate urban heat island effects, lowering temperatures and improving quality of life, while the canal network protects many households, businesses and national infrastructure such as electricity substations, transport and schools.
Extreme weather has cost the charity millions in the last year and it has launched a fundraising campaign to help it tackle storm and flood damage which has topped £10 million.
Mr Parry, who is to leave the CRT this year, continued: “The recent storms and floods show just how vulnerable canals, and surrounding communities, can be, and how vital it is to keep them safe. Our charity is calling on the public to help us respond to this threat and make a vital contribution towards maintaining the canal network, ensuring people can continue to use and enjoy the canals for generations to come.”
The charity’s core activities are to protect, operate and manage the canal network in England and Wales for navigation, access along the towpaths, and to provide recreation and other leisure activities. Beyond this, the canal network also provides essential services for others, including:
- Water transfer and supply: sustainable water transfers through partnerships with water companies, securing drinking water needs and other water dependent services, while reducing the UK’s need for new reservoirs to be constructed.
- Agricultural support: the canal network provides surplus water to farmers, aiding drought resilience and securing water supplies that are essential for sustaining agriculture.
- Flood mitigation and relief: an adaptable resource to mitigate extreme weather impacts and divert water away from heavily affected areas.
- Heating and cooling: low-carbon heating and cooling of buildings and other infrastructure, such as data centres.
- Firefighting: the emergency services use water from the canal network through agreed abstraction licences or direct use in emergency situations.
- Growth and regeneration: attractive settings for sustainable urban living, active travel and urban cooling in our cities.
The report also highlights various schemes CRT is involved in which help with drinking water or agriculture. For example, its Llangollen Canal in Cheshire is vital in the movement of water for 330,000 people in Nantwich and it helps a large vegetable grower in Yorkshire with water for irrigation.
In the last two years CRT has spent millions repairing lock, canal bank and culvert damage following heavy rain. It has also removed invasive weeds which have allowed other species to thrive, especially in Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
The charity has a team on duty 24/7 to tackle issues thrown up by climate change, such as flooding, downed trees and collapsed banks.
It also illustrates how its maintenance and repair strategy has protected schools, businesses, properties, railways and hundreds of thousands of people from harm.
To read the Climate Adaptation Report click here: www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/our-cause/threats-to-our-waterways/climate-change
