A new research publication by Local Government Association (LGA) indicates that Councils are critical in preparing people and places to the impacts of the changing climate.
… report explores local authorities’ preparedness for climate adaptation…
The LGA writes:
… As leaders in communities, they deliver hundreds of essential services to protect public health, manage roads, prepare for floods, and provide open space. Nationally we are not sufficiently prepared for the impacts of climate change, and central government must prioritise its work with local government to close this gap. This research report explores local authorities’ preparedness for climate adaptation…
Councils are critical in preparing people and places to the impacts of the changing climate. As leaders in communities, they deliver hundreds of essential services to protect public health, manage roads, prepare for floods, and provide open space. They are planning authorities, housing authorities, fire authorities and more. Nationally we are not sufficiently prepared for the impacts of climate change, and central government must prioritise its work with local government to close this gap.
Local Partnerships was commissioned by the Local Government Association (LGA) for this research piece into local authorities’ preparedness for climate adaptation. The objective was to investigate, understand and present what local government would like to see from a refreshed National Adaptation Plan (NAP3), and the wider national government policy, regulatory and funding framework, to accelerate central and local government’s collaboration on place-based adaptation to climate change. The work sought to identify recommendations to take to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Method
The method taken aimed to be as inclusive as possible, ensuring views were captured from as many authorities as possible. Three separate components made up the approach:
- a voluntary survey for local authorities
- external stakeholder interviews with key external stakeholders and agencies (including the Climate Change Committee (CCC))
- a series of virtual workshops to explore in more depth the key themes coming through from the survey.
Recommendations
Through the evidence gathering stage several topics were discussed, with seven key themes and topics beginning to emerge, as they were mentioned on numerous occasions by multiple respondents which have formed the basis of the recommendations below.
It is clear there is a willingness within the sector to accelerate adaptation planning, with councils citing in their responses to the survey, that there are opportunities to improve health and wellbeing and quality of life, particularly of the most vulnerable and to build resilience for the long term and not just in an emergency.
Central government needs to explore and provide support to local authorities for adaptation planning and action, to ensure local government services and leadership are adapted to the changing climate, where they can be, and resilient where this is not possible. Engagement with the local government sector should capture the wider views and experience in order to design and shape policy that will support councils with understanding climate risk and appropriate adaptive action.
The third iteration of the NAP could be a five-year adaptation accelerator programme, providing the foundations for the long-term adaptation strategy, for the fourth NAP and beyond. The NAP needs to be a key tool in driving actions towards adaptation and not just a record of current practice and future risks.
To achieve this long-term ambition there are several components involved, led by central government, and working with councils and public sector partners….
