Trying to parcel that up into ‘risks’ and ‘opportunities’ is just complicated and confusing. Subjective filtering of hundreds of possible effects is time consuming, unreliable, and so inefficient and distracting.

The irony of this ‘risk’ based analysis is that, if climate change becomes a predictable certainty, then there will be no ‘risk’ to adapt to, but still plenty of adaptation to do.

The Guidance was developed by all the project partners including UK partners – London Borough of Sutton, Southampton City and the North West. It is only effective as long as there is political commitment to the agenda which these partners had.

The AAP is supported by a number of other complementary elements including a High Level Policy Statement (essentially corporate and planning commitment).

There will be further news and announcements about the legacy and achievements of the GRaBS project, including the AAP work element in June. So watch this space or the TCPA and GRaBS websites.

Thanks for your comment. Can I ask – how do you think the reporting power could be applied proportionally to local authorities? What role could be played by sector-led proposals such as ‘Climate Local’, which will increase the transparency of local authority adaptation actions?

But as you suggest, there may be other ideas on how to deliver the integrated responses so interested in hearing others views.

Many thanks

The impacts of climate change on population health (especially for ‘vulnerable’ groups such as children, older people and people already in poor health) have been widely studied. However, less consideration has been given to the potential impact of climate change on the infrastructures and systems supporting health and social care delivery and how we might adapt these systems to respond to a changing climate.

BIOPICCC (Built Infrastructure for Older People’s Care in Conditions of Climate Change) is a multidisciplinary study tasked with developing strategies to help to ensure that the infrastructures and systems supporting older people’s health and social care are sufficiently resilient to withstand the potentially harmful impacts of climate change in the future, up to 2050. It is very important to understand what buildings, roads and pathways, and utilities people rely on, for example, and how extreme weather may affect these.

The study has highlighted the importance of co-ordinated action between different partners (Adult health and social care, emergency planning, the voluntary sectors etc.) and at different levels of governance (from the local to the national). It is essential to embed strategies for climate change adaptation across service delivery and infrastructure planning, whilst placing service users and the general public at the centre of the decision-making process. Budget cuts, changes in the structure of the NHS and public health, and the localism agenda, present a series of challenges and opportunities for climate change adaptation.

We aim to contribute to information and guidance for local agencies and communities to support the process of adaptation and capacity building at local level. Local case study research is showing us that adaption strategies need to be adjusted to fit with local conditions. National directives do not provide a detailed ‘blue print’ for local action; at the local level it may be necessary to plan and carry out innovative action that will be best fitted to conditions on the ground. Exchanging local experiences can also help to build better practice across the country.

Businesses, especially big corporation should be included as they have a big role to play in influencing and encouraging public behaviour. Businesses should recognise their responsibility towards tackling climate change.

The Authority works in partnership with the Districts, Boroughs and other partners (including Sustainability East, Environment Agency, Climate Energy, Energy Saving Trust and NHS to deliver climate change projects such as a partner online forum to share best practice, coordinating the development of Climate Change training for planners funded by Sustainability East Climate Change Skills Fund. Also from this funding the delivery of Energy Efficiency ‘Train the Trainers’ training for Essex LAs and NHS front line staff and Carbon Reduction training and Advice for Essex businesses. In 2010, the Authority won a National Edie Award for Environmental Excellence for the Home Improvement Agency training, where agency staff was trained to City and Guilds standards to deliver energy efficiency advice during their home visits.

The Authority is currently working with a range of partners on community resilience against climate change and this partnership know at BREC (Building Resilience in Essex Communities). It has been successfully awarded funding by the Big Lottery on Communities Living Sustainably to develop a Project Delivery Plan. The Essex project aims to work with four communities in Essex to improve community resilience and encourage behaviour change amongst individuals and communities so they can cope better with the environmental, economic and social impacts of a changing climate.

2.The barriers or challenges LAs face is the high level of uncertainty around adaptation, on whether LAs should invest resources on actions; with no guarantee they will provide the long-term resilience required and cost of long-term maintenance. There is pressure for LAs to save money, and that they may not realise the opportunities of investing in adaptation measures now, in return saving money in the long-term (spend to save).

Since the removal of the National Indicators and the need for LAs to make cut backs a number of climate changes roles, skills and knowledge have been lost, leaving a gap in resources and capacity, as well as general political acceptance, since there is no statutory requirement to address adaptation risks, (although it makes good business sense). With the focus on localism each LA has identified different priorities and objectives which do not necessarily include adaptation. There is a significant drive towards economical growth, which is often seen to conflict with action to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Majority of actions taken by LAs to date are those of mitigation, because LAs are able to deliver tangible actions, visualise a direct outcome and measure progress, as well as the statutory requirement of the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme.

3. There is a need to gain political acceptance whether it is through making adaptation a statutory requirement. A way that could help address this issue is a simple cost analysis tool or local case study of the cost of not adapting to climate change to make it more understandable and real to each LA. To ensure the messages to LA and the general public are clear and also highlights the opportunities. Recognise that each LA has different priorities and objectives, so a one size programme does not fit all and that LAs can not do it on their own and that other organisations and even residents need to take responsibility.

A number of LA’s have a lack of financial resources and staffing issues, so would need support in new partnership (pooling resources), guidance and tools, continued access to latest research, and improved sharing of best practice.

4.A consistent approached with tailored messages to reflect the needs of an area and that message to everyone is clear, with better use of language and positive/opportunities, to encourage everyone to take action and responsibility.

To gain political acceptance to take adaptive action is to provide LAs with some incentive or to make it a statutory obligation for LAs to embed adaptation in all corporate policy and plans, along with a set of measurable to measure progress.

If, in the current climate, it is considered appropriate to extend the Reporting Power to local authorities how do you think it could be applied proportionally? What role might be played by sector-led proposals such as ‘Climate Local’, which will increase the transparency of local authority adaptation actions? It would be really interesting to hear views from other people who are participating in this discussion.”

If, in the current climate, it is considered appropriate to extend the Reporting Power to local authorities how do you think it could be applied proportionally? What role might be played by sector-led proposals such as ‘Climate Local’, which will increase the transparency of local authority adaptation actions? It would be really interesting to hear views from other people who are participating in this discussion.

2. It will be very difficult for local councils to adapt to the challenges of climate change emanating from a lack of certainty over future levels of greenhouse gas emissions (as with any other sector). Additionally, if flooding is set to increase significantly in England across the next century and local councils have already been significantly involved in supporting their (often rural) communities in recent years when this has occurred – they will be significantly challenged to continue to do this – unless there is greater support from the Environment Agency (e.g. the Broom flooding problem at Bidford on Avon). So the problems, despite local councils being well placed to mitigate the challenges of climate change adaptation at the grassroots level – for them – are ones of both resource and uncertainty.

3. The Government and the Environment Agency can provide greater political pressure on and guidance to principal local authorities on how to create flood management partnerships locally to combat increased flooding. Such flood partnerships need to involve local councils, community groups, relevant principal local authority officers and appropriate (regional) Environment Agency staff – to help respond quickly and locally to increasingly sudden and great flooding risks. For political reasons in the past, principal authorities have not collaborated in some instances where they should have done, with local councils, to respond to flooding. Local councils – especially in areas like Warwickshire – are excellent grassroots partners and allies to have when tasks such as sandbag distribution and storage are required, in the event of flooding. Nationally – given some of the evidence contained in the CCRA Evidence Report (DEFRA, 2012: Xii) – flooding seems to be the greatest consequence of climate change, so support to and requirements upon principal authorities to work far more locally and with regard to local councils would, as appropriate, seem to be a priority.

4. It can only be a positive development if some principal authorities have already developed their own CCRAs and local adaptation action plans. These need really to be parish-proofed so that we can know that local councils have been engaged, consulted and involved at every stage. That way (as with local councils and flooding in Warwickshire) – effective local responses to future climate change risks and opportunities, can be effected.