UK’s ‘First Climate Change Refugees’ Told To Leave Their Homes Due To Threat Of Flooding

Residents of Fairbourne, a seaside village in Wales, have been branded as the UK’s ‘first climate change refugees’ after they were told to leave their homes due to the threat of coastal flooding.

All 450 houses, amongst shops, pub, and post office, will be ‘decommissioned’ by 2054 as sea-levels continue to rise.

‘Severe danger’

In a BBC video, Community Chairman Stuart Eves said: “This stunning scenery you have here [the sea] – they’re threatening is going to come and breach through the sea wall and take Fairbourne away.

“With climate change and sea-level rise, then, unfortunately, eventually it will happen. It really is getting to a point where coastal towns like ours are getting into severe danger.”

‘Increased risk’

According to the BBC, Gwynedd Council said: “In the long term, maintaining and increasing flood defenses would not only be costly but would also lead to increased risk to life should the defenses fail.”

Residents have not been offered any compensation, and have aired concerns that house prices in the area have plummeted due to the uncertainty of Fairbourne’s future.

You can watch the full video here