A Landscape Strategy for Lancashire - Landscape Strategy

2.9 Air Quality and Climate Change

The release of pollutants into the air may influence air quality and climate change. Air pollution can also affect health and biodiversity; sensitive species such as lichens, habitats which are naturally low in nutrients, and habitats on acid soils or in acid waters are particularly at risk. Air quality in Lancashire is likely to be far better now than in the past. This is evidenced by the spread of pollution sensitive lichen species into areas where they were previously absent ^([1]). Nevertheless, air quality is a significant issue in Lancashire as industrial areas along the coast are close to sensitive wetland and upland habitats.

The global climate is expected to change as a result of burning fossil fuels, methane and nitrous oxide from agriculture, industry and waste disposal. Expert judgement suggests that climate change in North West England will result in increased temperatures (0.1 o/c to 0.3 o/c per decade), more winter rainfall (between 6% and 14% increase by 2050's), higher wind speeds, fewer winter frosts, perhaps more variable weather, higher sea- levels and perhaps more stormy weather and higher wave heights. ^([2])

Climate change is already happening and projections into the next century suggest that it will influence a great many physical, chemical, biological and human activities, including changing the appearance of the landscape, coastline and urban infrastructure. Global warming is accompanied by the prospect of world wide sea level rise. The average global sea level rise is expected to be 6 cm per decade over the next century ^([3]) , mainly caused by thermal expansion of the oceans and melting of low level land ice.

In Lancashire the coastal zone will be subject to increasing risk of tidal inundation from a combination of high tides, tidal surges and high waves in the Irish Sea. Much of Lancashire has a low lying coastline which is already at risk from flooding. Increased wind speeds may also threaten coastal copses. Lancashire's existing coastal defences do not take account of climate change induced wave height and the frequency of tidal surges. The loss of mudflats and salt marshes would have major impact on the internationally significant bird feeding grounds found in the extensive bays and estuaries. Ports, harbours, resorts, coastal industries and occupations such as farming or fishing are also vulnerable to more extreme tidal events. Dredging of harbours may also need to be increased as a result of increased silt levels bought in by rivers and wind blown maritime silt driven by the increased speed of south westerly winds.

The uplands too could change significantly in character as a result of warmer, wetter conditions. The changes could affect soils, moorland vegetation and those upland animal and plant communities which are adapted to a relatively cold maritime climate. There will be an inward migration of new species, an outward migration of marginalised species and an increased risk of upland fires which damage the economy of upland estates and their ecological value.

2.9.1 Summary of Key Issues for Air Quality and Climate Change

The most significant pressures from air pollution and climate change are:

      potential loss of inter-tidal and other coastal habitats and biodiversity due to rising sea levels;

      loss of species at the edge of their range due to the impacts of species competition and migration;

      impact on sensitive species such as lichens which are particularly susceptible to air pollution;

      gradual changes in wildlife communities in response to climate change, pests and fire hazard;

      increase in tidal surges, high waves and coastal winds which will have implications for coastal defence works.

^{([1]) Biological Heritage Sites: Guidelines for Site Selection, Lancashire County Council, 1998}

^{([2]) Everybody has an Impact - Climate Changes in the North West of England, An Initiative of the North West Climate Group. September 1999.}

^{([3]) As stated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 'Business as Usual' scenario, 1990.}