The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee, chaired by Baroness Sheehan, has launched an inquiry into drought preparedness in England.
The inquiry seeks to understand the consequences of drought on both the urban and rural environment. It will focus on the sufficiency of drought management practices and policies in responding to droughts both today and in the future, including monitoring, engagement, and changes in supply and demand.
The Committee’s focus is on England, as drought management responsibilities are devolved. However, the Committee says it acknowledges the interconnected and cross-boundary nature of water resources and invite commentary on the interaction between countries.
England is on course for a public water supply deficit of 5 billion litres a day by 2055. With the risk of drought increasing, the Committee believes it is a crucial time to take stock of the evidence on future drought risk, the Government’s drought response processes and evaluate the plans to mitigate the impacts of drought in the future.
The aims of this inquiry are to:
- Understand how drought will affect England in the short- and long-term, particularly in response to climate change.
- Evaluate how effective drought response plans and processes are, including coordination and communication at national, regional and local level.
- Clarify how drought actions are prioritised.
- Identify the opportunities for improved drought preparedness and response.