The Royal Statistical SocietyThe Royal Statistical Society
Water, Water Everywhere (and Not a Drop to Drink)

Just how important is it that we adapt to climate change? In Britain, there are more than 2 million homes in flood prone areas. Major floods such as Boscastle in 2004 and in Carlisle in 2005 have all taken their toll.
 
Scientists and statisticians agree that greenhouse gas emissions are warming the Earth's climate and predict that global temperatures will, on average, rise substantially over the next century. However, there is much less agreement regarding likely patterns of change in rainfall, particularly at a regional level. This creates serious difficulties for those charged with the task of planning against future floods and droughts.

In total nearly 90 audience members - including representatives of the Environment Agency, the insurance industry, local flood action groups, water companies, interest groups such as Greenpeace and the National Trust alongside students and academics - joined together to consider floods (and droughts): predictions, risks and the big issues for the future.

Our speakers: a statistician, an engineer, a government agency manager and a climate change/insurance industry consultant and researcher helped us to unravel the complexities of the topic.

Presentations