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News Release from: CIWEM | Subject: Critical Infrastructure and Flooding
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 14 February 2008
'Critical Infrastructure and Flooding'
Conference
CIWEM conference examine the potential threat to the UK's critical infrastructure from extreme weather events.
The floods of summer 2007 highlighted the potential threat to the UK's critical infrastructure from extreme weather events, with estimated costs of up to GBP6 billion Combined with other flooding events such as storm surges, the threats to our infrastructure cannot be ignored
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 1 Sep 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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CIWEM's conference 'Critical Infrastructure and Flooding' on March 26th 2008 will be looking to provide some answers.
The Pitt Review scoped how critical infrastructure was affected by the events of summer 2007 and drew upon the wide body of evidence from previous extreme rainfall events.
CIWEM's conference will question if the responses to the Pitt Review require clearer legislative direction and examine whether the Climate Change Bill provides an opportunity to introduce any urgent measures.
CIWEM's conference will look at practicalities such as risk assessments, possible root causes including drainage, investment, the role of adaptive management and guidance.
David Rooke, Head of Flood Risk Management at the Environment Agency, will chair sessions which will define 'criticality', report on how the information on critical infrastructure is organised and communicated, consider how critical infrastructure managers are warned of the threat of major events and explore civil contingencies and strategic framework.
Delegates will be given perspectives from local authorities, utility companies, consultancies, the National Grid, the Highways Agency, Water UK and the Environment Agency.
CIWEM Executive Director, Nick Reeves, says: "The summer floods caused by record-breaking rainfall were the strongest hint yet that climate change is shortening the odds on catastrophic and expensive environmental crises in Britain".
"We must share our experiences and develop more integrated and sustainable solutions to flooding issues".
"We have to ask, how much has been learned from the recent past - and what resources are we, as a nation, willing to spend to reduce the risk?".
Critical Infrastructure and Flooding will be held at SOAS, London on 26th March 2008.
Media professionals interested in a press pass need to contact Emily Doyle, CIWEM Press and Marketing Officer, on 020 7831 3110 or emily@ciwem.org.
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