Coastal Change and Conflict (Edexcel GCSE Geography: B (1GB0))

Figure 2

Analyse Figure 4 which shows the amount of money spent on river and coastal flood defences in the UK, 2005–2015.

Figure 4

• Flood risks have been increasing in the UK and are likely to increase further due to climate change.
• On average, flood damage costs the UK over £1bn a year, with damage in some years costing more than £6bn (2015).
• The government calculates that an extra £25 billion over and above current spending needs to be spent on flood defences over the next 100 years.
• If spending on flood defences is increased, potential savings are estimated to be £125 bn.

Assess the costs and benefits of future increases in spending on flood defences in the UK.

(8)

(1)

ii) Identify which one of the following is most likely to result in rapid coastal erosion.

(1)

iii) Explain one way in which hard engineering can reduce coastal erosion.

(2)

Figure 2

(1)

(2)

(4)