Adaptation to Climate Change in the UK: A Case Study of the Boscastle Harbour Flood Disaster Tori L. Jennings University of Wisconsin – Madison

“Bridge” Boscastle 16 August 2004

“A Flash Flood in the pan or a rainstorm caused by global warming?” – The Independent “Weather Warning: Climate Change is Happening” – Friends of the Earth “Britain should expect more dangerous flash floods, catastrophic rain and hail storms, droughts and heatwaves from the rapid changes in rainfall patterns brought by global warming” – The Guardian “Flashfloods as terrifying as the Boscastle disaster will become more common as Britain’s climate grows hotter” – The Times “Floods to become more frequent” – BBC News Flooding seen in Britain “in the past few days may be the face of things to come” – Daily Mail

Debris dam lower bridge

► …focus attention on the subordination of local knowledge in instances of decision- making despite widespread efforts to enhance participation and public input into decision-making.

Maps by Met Office

Circa 1900

Debris dam upper bridge