Climate risk heightened by Brexit says report’s Leeds author

University of Leeds professor Andrew Challinor was quoted on the risks of climate change to the UK following the issuing of a report on Tuesday 11 July by the Committee on Climate Change.

Interviewed for Bloomberg, the Priestley Centre academic said that the UK’s decision to leave the EU could make the identified risks, which include rising seas, flooding, severe heatwaves, loss of agricultural land and food shortages, even more challenging for the country.

“The coordination needed to deal with climate change will be more difficult under Brexit. Climate change risks cross international boundaries, and dealing with them requires cross-government and international coordination,” said Professor Challinor, who co-wrote a chapter on International Dimensions for the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment 2017.

The report’s publication was covered by The Guardian, The Independent and the Yorkshire Post, as well as BBC News Online, and Carbon Brief, both of which quoted Priestley Centre director Professor Piers Forster, who said: “The UK gets off lighter than many countries but this important report confirms that we are already seeing damage to homes, businesses and livelihoods.

“There are a few opportunities hidden in the mix but the future is clearly one of increased risk that we need to prepare for now.”