The Partnership's Plan - Lake District National Park

Spectacular landscape, wildlife and cultural heritage - Issues and
actions
The spectacular landscape, wildlife and cultural heritage outcome features:
• Climate change
• Landscape, biodiversity and ecosystem services and
• Cultural heritage and built environment.
3.14 Climate change
3.14.1 Facts and challenges
• We want the Lake District to be an ‘inspirational example of sustainable development
in action’. We therefore need to address both the effects of climate change today and
reduce future impacts. This is one of our greatest challenges.
• Climate change is a key issue for everyone from the small to the large scale; our
current context for Climate Change in the National Park is ‘Low-carbon Lake District:
Responding to Climate Change in the National Park’. The report assesses the impact
of climate change on the Lake District. It looks at the physical effects of climate
change and the likely impacts on the society and economy of the Lake District.
• Many partners have signed up to Cumbria’s Climate Change Action Plan.
• Increasingly frequent and damaging flooding hints at what we can expect if we don’t
adapt. We will work hard to identify solutions and will be ready to make difficult
choices.
• Research suggests sea level rises are an inevitable product of climate change which
could threaten communities in the Lake District. Increased coastal erosion will also
occur.
• Managing water resources is also likely to be challenging. Our water tends to be
associated with designated wildlife sites. More frequent or more severe droughts has
potential to affect biodiversity, tourism and development. The West Cumbria Resource
Zone is particularly vulnerable to drought.
• There will be social and economic implications: greater demand for water from other
parts of the UK; and greater pressure on land for agriculture, energy crops and
building. Some changes will immediately affect residents and visitors. Others will be
more gradual or subtle, such as the loss of species and habitats. The cumulative effect
could radically alter the look and feel of the Lake District.
• There are significant challenges from new nuclear build on the coast. There are links
to the prosperous economy whilst grid infrastructure requirements may have an impact
on the spectacular landscape, biodiversity and ecosystems.
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