OPINION

摘要

Recent events have stressed the importance of paying heed to Environment Agency warnings of increasing winter flood risks, caused by changes to UK weather patterns. With politicians now promising to address the issue, it is vital we don't overlook the EA's even stronger warnings about summer droughts. It would be shortsighted to address floods in any way that does not also address droughts. As the 2014 floods are at the top of the political agenda it makes most sense to address that as the first priority. In doing so, we must avoid relying solely on increasing the efficiency of waterways in evacuating excess winter surface water to the sea as a means of flood defence.