|
|
|
Publications : SEPA View : 31 : HTML Version
|
FOREWORD
If, like me, you’ve spent June looking out of your window wondering if you need to take an umbrella or sunblock – or both! – you might think that water is something you don’t need to worry too much about in Scotland. But, this issue of SEPA View challenges you to think differently.
Although 70% of the world’s surface is covered in water surprisingly less than 1% of this is available for consumption by humans, giving rise to situations like the drought orders currently facing much of the South of England. So, while our traditional Scottish summers might continue, our complacent attitude to water use in Scotland simply can’t.
Climate change is real and with us already and has some serious implications for Scotland. Warmer, drier summers might seem an attractive prospect, yet the consequences could be disastrous for Scotland: potentially leading to drought, particularly on the east coast, increased storm damage and more frequent coastal and river flooding. Not only would this have a significant impact on our wildlife and our own way of life, but it would also have social and economic costs.
We in SEPA count ourselves lucky to have our very own climate change ‘guru’, in the form of Dr James Curran, recently voted onto Scotland on Sunday’s 100 most influential people list. James has long been a champion of the potential of the sea as a source of renewable energy, going so far as to say “Scotland has a huge supply of renewable energy sources and we must exploit them further”. Read about how this could become a reality in our feature Waves of Energy on page 1.
This issue of SEPA View highlights just some of the issues about our marine environment, what we can do to protect it, and what it can offer us. This captivating subject is just one of many that will feature high on the agenda at our forthcoming State of Scotland’s environment conference. This high-profile conference is being held in Edinburgh on 2nd and 3rd October, and will bring many water issues and many, many more to the forefront of Scottish debate and help us take a more integrated approach to environmental problems. You can help Change Tomorrow Today too,simply fill out the flyer you’ll find inside this magazine and return it to be kept up to date.
Campbell Gemmell
Chief Executive
A full contents list for this HTML version is available via the navigation bar to the left. Alternatively, you can download the pdf version here
|
|
