The potential impact of factors such as climate change on flood and coastal erosion is the focus of a new project launched by the UK's Foresight programme.
Foresight brings together business, academia and government to look forward and identify future opportunities and actions needed to boost UK competitiveness.
Under the Flood and Coastal Defences project, prominent scientists and engineers will investigate the affects of climate change and other factors that could affect flood risk and coastal erosion over a 30-100 year timescale, to help the UK develop a strategy to cope with current and increasing risks.
Speaking at the launch of the programme, Minister for Flood and Coastal Defence, Elliot Morley, said: ‘This innovative research project could help us show the way forward on longer-term flood defence planning. It will form a further source of strategic input to the government’s US$600M a year-plus flood and coastal defence programme.’