Politicians have called for a renewed focus on climate change after new data showed 82,308 homes are at risk of flooding in the West Midlands.
Analysis of Environment Agency data by Friends of the Earth, showed there were also 17,974 homes which have been judged to be at “significant” risk.
Now MPs from across the region have called for a new focus on climate change on the back of the data which comes after homes in Worcestershire and Shropshire were flooded in the recent storms.
The figures showed that in mid-Worcestershire 1,529 homes are at risk with 633 at significant risk.
Sir Peter Luff, Conservative MP for Mid Worcestershire, said: “In Wychavon we had our wake-up call in the storms of 1998.
“Since then we have done a lot to protect homes from the consequences of climate change, with considerable success.
“As a result, many homes stayed dry in the last two months that would have been flooded in precious years.
“However, a lot more can also be done to protect to protect individual properties from flooding. Flood defence plans must take into account the expected impacts of climate change, like more rainfall and higher sea levels.
“We also need a renewed focus on tackling climate change as well as preparing for it.
“Every community should be encouraged to have its own renewable energy project and every home should be insulated to stop it leaking heat, money and carbon emissions. It’s environmental sense and economic sense too.”
Nationally more than 6,000 homes have been affected by the winter floods.
However, the Government’s Climate Change Risk Assessment estimates that almost one million UK homes could be at significant risk of flood by the 2020s, up from the 370,000 currently at significant risk nationwide.
John Hemming (Lib Dem Yardley) said the recent floods highlight that climate change will result in more rainfall and potentially, over time, higher sea levels.
He added: “The focus has to remain on tackling climate change.
“The links between climate and carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have been predicted since at the latest 1938, however, action to deal with this has been begrudging. We need to concentrate efforts on dealing with this including reducing energy usage and hence energy bills for consumers by insulation and other efficiency measures.”
West Midlands Friends of the Earth campaigner Chris Crean said the Government is spending £500 million less on flood defences than is required to keep pace with climate change.
He added: “Flooding is devastating for anyone that is affected by it and as a country we must do much more to prepare for the impacts of climate change. Without proper investment in flood defences, hundreds of thousands more homes could be put at risk of flooding.
“Prevention is better than cure, so it’s also vital that the Government redouble efforts to stop climate change becoming worse.”
