The Association of British Insurers' (ABI) stance on climate change has been welcomed by the National Farmers' Union (NFU).

Vice president of the NFU Paul temple said that the ABI's manifesto identified that spending on flood defences, particularly in coastal areas, had to meet the anticipated threats of climate change on the enviornment.

"Protecting coastal land is not only about protecting the land itself but also the inland communities, towns and cities which could be put at risk," he said.

He added that while the manifesto drew attention to the need for energy security and the key role of farmers and growers in the generation of renewable power on farmland, it was also vital to safeguard food and the land on which it is gown as "world food markets become more volatile as a result of worldwide climatic events".

The ABI's report, 'Adapting to our changing climate: a manifesto for business, government and the public', listed several measures that it said should be put in place before 2011.

A minimum of £750 million a year, amounting to a ten per cent annual rise on current levels, needs to be spent by 2011, it said.