A report into Brighton and Hove’s climate risk and vulnerability said the effects of climate change pose significant and serious challenges to wildlife, infrastructure, public health and local business and industry.
More frequent and intense hot weather is anticipated to “trigger declines in species populations”, even to the point of “local extinctions”.
The report also states: “The impacts are not only felt during summer months – less winter frost and warmer damp conditions also have the potential to increase the prevalence of pests, pathogens and invasive species such as ticks that carry Lyme disease, with cases recorded to be on the rise.”
Increased periods of drought in the city could also hit water supply, but the report said the impact would be less pronounced due to Brighton and Hove’s use of groundwater sources, which are less vulnerable to reduced rainfall.
The report highlighted how flooding already poses risks in the city, with more than 30,000 homes at risk in Brighton and Hove.
Areas believed to be most at risk are Aldrington, Patcham and Falmer, along with properties with basement flats.
As much as 30 per cent of the strategic road network is exposed to either high or medium risk of groundwater flooding, the report said, with seven per cent of the city’s railway track also at high risk.
Buildings at the University of Sussex, along with the A27 and the Amex Stadium are also thought to be at risk of flooding, as well as the Goldstone Retail Park and some shopping streets in the city centre.
Sea level rise is also expected to have a significant impact, with the risk of saltwater intrusion into the city’s chalk aquifer and the loss of the shingle coastline over time.
Brighton and Hove City Council declared a climate and biodiversity emergency in 2018 and pledged to be carbon neutral by 2030.
Green Mp Caroline Lucas said the report offered a further warning of the dangers of climate change to the city
Caroline Lucas, Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, said: “From the terrible disruption and damage we saw last June to the sewage flowing in the streets of Patcham recently, Brighton and Hove residents are no strangers to the devastating impacts of flooding and we remain one of the most at-risk areas in the country.
“This landmark report now offers a further warning of how much more severe the impacts will be in this region if runaway climate change continues – with other serious risks of water scarcity, increased fires, health problems and the erosion of our iconic coastline to name just a few.
“It could not be more important that we have Green MPs in Parliament to keep up the pressure on this government, and whoever forms the next government, to treat the climate emergency with the seriousness and urgency that it so clearly warrants.”
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