In an article published in Geographical this month, writer Karen Lloyd reflects on the experiences of those who were hit by severe flooding in Cumbria in the winter of 2015/16. In a few weeks’ time, on 11th March, the RGS-IBG is hosting a public discussion meeting at the Rheged Centre in Penrith, bringing together for an afternoon those who have
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A fundamental change is required to the way in which we view flood management and flood defence in the UK: this was one of the take-home messages from the latest 21st Century Challenges Policy Forum, held at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) on Tuesday 8 November. Professor Colin Thorne, a member of the panel for the evening, drawing on
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The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Parliamentary Select Committee has today (2 November) released a report into flood risk management in the UK that the committee’s chair, Neil Parish MP, describes as ‘radical’ in its proposals. Setting out their view that the current systems of flood risk management (FRM) in this country are unfit for purpose, the Committee call for
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Cookers at eye-level, water-resistant floor tiles, waterproof brickwork and water pumps: these are all measures that householders and businesses can install to protect their premises from the worst effects of flooding, and to allow them to continue their lives as normal after a flood event. Yet it is not yet standard practice in flood-affected areas to install such ‘Property Level Resilience’
Read moreAn infographic from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) provides an at-a-glance overview of current trends in the UK energy system. Published in the summer 2016 edition of the ESRC’s magazine, ‘Society Now‘, statistics from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (now part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) provide an insight into the challenge faced
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The panel for the next in the series of 21st Century Challenges: Policy Forum events is now complete. ‘Achieving Sustainable Flood-Risk Management in the UK‘ will take place at the Society on Tuesday 8th November, chaired by BBC Environment Analyst Roger Harrabin. The panellists are: Martin Rogers, Flood Management and Access Adviser, National Farmers’ Union Carly Rose, Associate Consultant, Mary
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In the run-up to the election for the new Mayor of London, on 5 May, the British Academy last night held a discussion to consider whether the model of an elected ‘metro mayor‘ is really one that should be adopted across the rest of the country, as per the Government’s policies for devolution. There is no doubt that government in this
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The interim findings of an ESRC and Public Policy Institute for Wales-funded project on housing schemes and poverty alleviation show that becoming a tenant in social housing is likely to have positive impacts on the gross income, housing quality and financial prospects of young, poor households, although whether these benefits last for the long term is unproven. The study, ‘The
Read moreJo Johnson MP, Minister for Universities and Science, was lavish in his praise of the achievements of the science and engineering community in the UK at the 30th anniversary Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE) lecture last night. Yet he was far less forthcoming about the impact of a potential ‘Brexit’ on the continuing success of this endeavour, despite a
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21st Century Challenges 