Parts of Exeter will be lost under water, climate research finds

NEW climate change research suggests that parts of Exeter could be under water in less than 80 years.

Research by online estate agents Emoov, who assessed date from the National Trust, BBC and environmental science news organisation Climate Central, concluded that Exeter was among the UK cites most at risk of the effects of climate change.

The researchers looked at eight areas affected by climate change: overheating and humidity, storm damage, expected temperature rise, rainy days, rainfall amount, soil heave, slope factors and the risk of part of the city being submerged by 2100. Giving each of these categories a score from 0 to 1, Exeter ranked joint fourth most at risk of climate change with a ranking of 4.9.

Brighton was first with 6.2, followed by Belfast and Cardiff on 5.1. Exeter and London were tied on 4.9.

The findings support arguments from the Environment Agency that coastal communities face “serious questions” about their long-term safety from rising sea levels.

The UN has also warned that extremes of coastal flooding are set to become far more frequent.

Climate Central also issued a report in late 2019 which suggested swathes of Devon might be under water by 2050.

Of the top five cities in the list, four are located in the south of England, with Cardiff the only exception.

Some cities, including Manchester and Birmingham, are not at risk of submerging underwater by 2100 but are still threatened by the effects of rising temperatures and humidity.

More than four in five Britons say they are concerned about climate change, with more than half ‘very concerned’.