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| Pilot study on sea levels threat | Pilot study on sea levels threat |
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| Many towns and villages along Wales's coastline could be abandoned in the future because of climate change, according to the Environment Agency. | Many towns and villages along Wales's coastline could be abandoned in the future because of climate change, according to the Environment Agency. |
| A documentary for O Flaen Dy Lygaid on S4C tonight warns although there is no immediate risk, a debate on the future viability of sea defences is needed. | A documentary for O Flaen Dy Lygaid on S4C tonight warns although there is no immediate risk, a debate on the future viability of sea defences is needed. |
| It comes as scientists predict a worldwide sea level rise of up to a metre by the end of this century. | It comes as scientists predict a worldwide sea level rise of up to a metre by the end of this century. |
| The coastal resort of Pwllheli, Gwynedd is to take part in a pilot scheme. | The coastal resort of Pwllheli, Gwynedd is to take part in a pilot scheme. |
| Meanwhile, scientists from Swansea University are at the forefront of measuring how fast glaciers melt in Greenland. | Meanwhile, scientists from Swansea University are at the forefront of measuring how fast glaciers melt in Greenland. |
| The pilot scheme will focus on three areas, with different type of flooding. | The pilot scheme will focus on three areas, with different type of flooding. |
| Apart from Pwllheli, Builth Wells in Powys is expected to be one and Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan. | Apart from Pwllheli, Builth Wells in Powys is expected to be one and Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan. |
| With hundreds of miles of coastline to look after, the Welsh Assembly Government with local authorities want to assess if sea defences can be maintained, or whether they are too expensive. | With hundreds of miles of coastline to look after, the Welsh Assembly Government with local authorities want to assess if sea defences can be maintained, or whether they are too expensive. |
| If they are, land drained and built upon may have to be abandoned and left to the elements. | If they are, land drained and built upon may have to be abandoned and left to the elements. |
| Innuit hunter Pele Maratse and Iolo ap Dafydd on a boat near the Apusiaji glacier, Greenland In pictures: Greenland and climate change | Innuit hunter Pele Maratse and Iolo ap Dafydd on a boat near the Apusiaji glacier, Greenland In pictures: Greenland and climate change |
| Dewi Vaughan Rowlands, Gwynedd's sustainability officer said: "If we believe by introducing further infrastructure to protect towns and the surrounding area are not sustainable or affordable - then very hard decisions needs to be taken as to when we allow the community will be relocated." | Dewi Vaughan Rowlands, Gwynedd's sustainability officer said: "If we believe by introducing further infrastructure to protect towns and the surrounding area are not sustainable or affordable - then very hard decisions needs to be taken as to when we allow the community will be relocated." |
| This may not happen at any time soon, but it does reflect the genuine concern about planning for climatic changes, and fearing what might come. | This may not happen at any time soon, but it does reflect the genuine concern about planning for climatic changes, and fearing what might come. |
| The assessment by Meic Davies of Environment Agency Wales in the S4C documentary is even more blunt. | The assessment by Meic Davies of Environment Agency Wales in the S4C documentary is even more blunt. |
| "Sea levels are already rising. What is predicted because of climate change affects is that the sea will rise quicker than predicted, up to a metre by the end of the century." | "Sea levels are already rising. What is predicted because of climate change affects is that the sea will rise quicker than predicted, up to a metre by the end of the century." |
| But he goes on to say that towns and villages near a river or the sea, already protected by defences, are not in an immediate danger. | But he goes on to say that towns and villages near a river or the sea, already protected by defences, are not in an immediate danger. |
| "Most of these communities will stay where they are for a very long time," said Mr Davies. | "Most of these communities will stay where they are for a very long time," said Mr Davies. |
| "What is important is to think about what previously was unthinkable - if we can't maintain that defence there, then at what point do we talk about what else we do?" | "What is important is to think about what previously was unthinkable - if we can't maintain that defence there, then at what point do we talk about what else we do?" |
| This talk of a managed retreat is due to ever more sobering predictions on carbon emissions and warming of the globe. | This talk of a managed retreat is due to ever more sobering predictions on carbon emissions and warming of the globe. |
| A glacier in eastern Greenland melting as it reaches the sea | |
| For years, glaciologist and scientists have pointed to the disappearing Antarctic ice shelf. Now Swansea University researchers are concerned how fast glaciers in Greenland are melting. | For years, glaciologist and scientists have pointed to the disappearing Antarctic ice shelf. Now Swansea University researchers are concerned how fast glaciers in Greenland are melting. |
| I joined some of them near the Ikertivaq glacier in eastern Greenland. | I joined some of them near the Ikertivaq glacier in eastern Greenland. |
| Canadian-born Dr Timothy James is a research fellow at Swansea's school of the environment and society. | Canadian-born Dr Timothy James is a research fellow at Swansea's school of the environment and society. |
| "If the entire ice sheet was to melt in Greenland, it would raise entire sea levels by 7m - which we're not expecting any time soon. | "If the entire ice sheet was to melt in Greenland, it would raise entire sea levels by 7m - which we're not expecting any time soon. |
| What we're really worried about are the small increases in sea level by 10 or 20cm - which are very realistic, and would cause a lot of countries - including Wales - a lot of problems." | What we're really worried about are the small increases in sea level by 10 or 20cm - which are very realistic, and would cause a lot of countries - including Wales - a lot of problems." |
| One of the few ways to see how quickly ice melts in the summer in Greenland, is by helicopter. While flying low over the ice cap - which stores an estimated 10% of the world's fresh water supply - streams of dark melting water runs off the surface. | One of the few ways to see how quickly ice melts in the summer in Greenland, is by helicopter. While flying low over the ice cap - which stores an estimated 10% of the world's fresh water supply - streams of dark melting water runs off the surface. |
| Near another glacier, close to the 300-strong Kulusuk settlement, I'm taken by boat across a fijord to see the melting Apusijiar glacier. | Near another glacier, close to the 300-strong Kulusuk settlement, I'm taken by boat across a fijord to see the melting Apusijiar glacier. |
| Photo: Iolo ap Dafydd" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0">Icebergs locked at end of a fijord near Kulusuk settlement, eastern Greenland | Photo: Iolo ap Dafydd" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0">Icebergs locked at end of a fijord near Kulusuk settlement, eastern Greenland |
| By comparison to bigger and mightier glaciers further north, this is small in comparison. But even here, it towers over 30ft above the water level , with loud cracks and constant water dripping as the ice melts and falls into the sea. | By comparison to bigger and mightier glaciers further north, this is small in comparison. But even here, it towers over 30ft above the water level , with loud cracks and constant water dripping as the ice melts and falls into the sea. |
| This glacier like many others in Greenland is retreating at a faster rate now than since records have been kept. | This glacier like many others in Greenland is retreating at a faster rate now than since records have been kept. |
| Climate change is happening agree most scientists, and that's down to our dependency on using oil, gas and coal to produce the energy we need. Gases like carbon dioxide, when released, then warm the atmosphere. | Climate change is happening agree most scientists, and that's down to our dependency on using oil, gas and coal to produce the energy we need. Gases like carbon dioxide, when released, then warm the atmosphere. |
| But with changes in the climate, there may be possibilities as well. At his Aberdyfi home, Sir John Houghton the former Met Office boss, was the first chairman of the inter-governmental panel on climate change, the IPCC. | But with changes in the climate, there may be possibilities as well. At his Aberdyfi home, Sir John Houghton the former Met Office boss, was the first chairman of the inter-governmental panel on climate change, the IPCC. |
| Sir John said: "There is no doubt climate change is happening. No doubt the earth is warming - no doubt about that, and .... the IPCC says scientists are 90% certain that human activity like burning coal, oil and gas are the main reasons for the warming of the climate at the moment." | Sir John said: "There is no doubt climate change is happening. No doubt the earth is warming - no doubt about that, and .... the IPCC says scientists are 90% certain that human activity like burning coal, oil and gas are the main reasons for the warming of the climate at the moment." |
| But while Sir John is critical of politicians not being proactive enough, he's keen to point out the opportunities as well. | But while Sir John is critical of politicians not being proactive enough, he's keen to point out the opportunities as well. |
| "Politicians are too timid but I sometime say about the Welsh, we should get ready for all those tourists who won't want to go to the Mediterranean anymore, because it'll be very dry and too hot, so they'll be coming to Wales for their holidays. And we should get ready for them." | "Politicians are too timid but I sometime say about the Welsh, we should get ready for all those tourists who won't want to go to the Mediterranean anymore, because it'll be very dry and too hot, so they'll be coming to Wales for their holidays. And we should get ready for them." |
| The O Flaen Dy Lygaid documentary, produced by BBC Wales, Dyfroedd Dyfnion, is on S4C (2130 GMT Tuesday 2 December, with English subtitles) | The O Flaen Dy Lygaid documentary, produced by BBC Wales, Dyfroedd Dyfnion, is on S4C (2130 GMT Tuesday 2 December, with English subtitles) |