Floods, poor access to water supply, the erosion of coastal areas and irreparable damage to wildlife could grip Kent in the future if climate change is ignored.

The dangerous impact of sea level rises, more water stress, greater flood risk and summer overheating is being highlighted in a new report by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).

In 'Tomorrow’s Kent' the CPRE says Kent has particular vulnerabilities which mean it is likely to be hit earlier and harder by climate change than any other areas of the UK.

The report aims to inspire people to take action now to prevent any of these eventualities coming true.

In August, KentOnline exclusively revealed how the Kent coastline might look in 100 years if nothing was done to protect us against rising sea levels. See if your area would be swept away >>>

Sean Furey, deputy director of CPRE Kent, said: "Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing us as a society. This report will give people the chance to see how this very global issue relates to us here in Kent.

"The latest and best scientific evidence suggests some of these changes are already happening."

~ Audio: Hear more from Sean Furey's interview with kmfm about the 'Tomorrow's Kent' report >>>

How your area will be affected, according to the report

Click on the place names below to jump straight to it in the list:

• Thanet >>>

• Dover >>>

• Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay >>>

• Swale >>>

• Medway >>>

• Sheppey >>>

• Maidstone >>>

• Gravesend and Dartford >>>

• Tonbridge >>>

• Sevenoaks >>>

• Ashford >>>

• Romney Marsh >>>

• Lydd >>>

Thanet:

In Thanet, there needs to be an emphasis on protecting the groundwater and grade 1 agricultural land from wasteful developments such as China Gateway.

Dover:

Dover council is pushing for ever higher levels of housing growth but it is in the most water-stressed area of the UK already. Climate change will make it increasingly harder for Folkestone and Dover Water to meet these ever higher housing targets without damaging fragile ecosystems, like the River Dour.

Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay:

The city of Canterbury and surrounding areas are extremely vulnerable to sea level rise and changing weather conditions. Historic buildings in Canterbury, such as the Cathedral, will need to adapt to more severe weather in the future

Properties in both Whitstable and Herne Bay are increasingly at risk from coastal flooding being on the coast. Residents of Faversham Road, Seasalter are already feeling the pinch of coastal management decisions that will affect their homes.

Swale:

Towns, villages, farmland and wildlife along both the Swale and the Medway Estuary are increasingly vulnerable to sea level rise and coastal flooding as happened in 1953.

Medway:

Greenhouse gas emissions from the power stations at Kingsnorth and Grain likely to make the problem worse. They are putting themselves in a vulnerable position.

Sheppey:

Faced with high sea levels and more storms the idea for a ‘Boris Island’ airport seems even more irresponsible.

Maidstone:

CPRE says the council is pushing for housing growth while being one of the most water-stressed areas of the county already.

CPRE believe climate change will make it increasingly harder for South East Water to meet these ever higher housing targets without damaging fragile ecosystems, like the River Medway. Meanwhile villages, like Yalding are likely to flood more often.

Gravesend and Dartford:

While CPRE Kent supports the redevelopment of brownfield land in the Thames Gateway, it believes more needs to be done to make the new and existing communities in the Dartford and Gravesham district safer against the impacts of flooding, water shortages and over-heating.

Tonbridge:

The town and its surrounding areas are no strangers to flooding. Even with defences like the Leigh Barrier, many homes and businesses will be at increasing risk from flooding, as events like 1968 and 2000 become more frequent.

Sevenoaks:

The River Darent in Sevenoaks dried up in the drought of 1989-1992 due to a combination of dry weather and over-pumping from the chalk aquifer. Climate change may affect the recharge of the aquifers making the river and its wildlife more vulnerable.

Ashford: The policies put in place by Ashford Borough Council put them in a good position but the CPRE feels words need to become action!

Romney Marsh: Romney Marsh faces the threat of sea level rise and coastal flooding causing local residents to form ‘Defend our Coast’, a group dedicated to ensuring that the Government invests in coastal defences in the right place and at the right time.

Lydd: Faced by such an uncertain future, the CPRE believes the proposals for an expanded Lydd airport look even more irresponsible. As well as damaging wildlife and the quality of life for local residents, the CPRE feels the carbon emissions from the airport will contribute to the very problem that threatens the whole of the Romney Marsh.

~ Related article: Are airport expansion plans 'irresponsible'? Join the debate >>>