Protecting Canals: A Fun Pathway to Climate Resilience

With their clear waters and serene surroundings, canals have always played an important role in our landscapes. But it appears they have a lot more to offer us, especially in the face of climate change. The Canal and River Trust charity has conducted a study of UK's canal system and has found that canals can actually be crucial in improving our planet's climate resilience (Who knew, right?).

The Biodiversity Boosters:

For starters, they add a delightful dash of biodiversity to our surroundings, becoming a cherished home for wildlife within cities. UK’s canal network, being the longest corridor of freshwater habitats in the country, provides a safe passage for adorable critters like kingfishers, herons, and even the endangered water vole, allowing them to thrive and move safely between urban and rural areas.

Canals - Our Weather Warriors:

Add to that, our beloved canals are also our secret weather warriors. According to Richard Parry, the trust’s chief executive, during periods of heavy rainfall, canals can serve as drainage routes and protect our buildings from flooding. Changes with time and they're now highly valued spaces for nature interaction, water security, flood mitigation, and helping us keep cool!

Canals - The Thirst Quenchers:

Consider them as your natural water security guards as well. With the UK facing an increased risk of summer droughts, urban canals provide water security to heavily populated areas. In fact, the trust's canal network supplies drinking water to over 5 million people every year!

Fantastic for Keeping Us Cool:

Also, when those heatwaves hit, canals were found to reduce surrounding temperatures by an average of 2C in heat-smacked cities.

Renewable Energy Champions:

Despite their age, canals are keeping up with the times. Once used to transport coal, they're now heralded as potential sources of renewable energy. A district heating network in Liverpool, scheduled to open in early 2025, will use water from the Leeds and Liverpool canal to supply heat to thousands of homes and commercial spaces, making canals renewable energy champions.

Resilience for the Future:

With climate change causing its own set of issues, the future of canals also has its own set of challenges. But despite the need for maintenance due to rapid erosion during extreme weather events, Parry asserts, "We’ve got to make them more resilient," adding value to our lives in unexpected ways and sustaining it for future generations. After all, these lush green pathways are just too precious to lose!

This fresh perspective can enrich our appreciation for the canals and the endless possibilities they offer in our journey towards a sustainable future.

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