Climate risk needs to be an integrated part of strategic planning and policy decisions. It’s accepted that the UK needs to accelerate its adaptation actions; however, how can this be driven forward at a local level?

The award-winning Local Climate Adaptation Tool (LCAT) was co-designed with stakeholders to empower local decision makers to take confident action. This open-source, online tool brings together climate models, community and health impact evidence, vulnerability data and adaptation options.

LCAT is straightforward to use. The user selects an area using the map or search function to see the predicted climate over the coming decades. The tool then offers a system-wide overview of future impacts, and the user can then drill down into specific future impacts on different services, sectors and people, including vulnerable groups. By illustrating the whole-system approach to adaptation, LCAT promotes multi-sectoral working, challenging stakeholders to work out of their traditional areas.

The tool then lists practical actions that stakeholders such as the local council or NHS can take to mitigate the effects of climate change. LCAT is accompanied by the “Local Climate Adaptation Guide”, which was also co-designed with users to build skills and knowledge, creating confidence in taking action.

Highlights

1. To plan climate adaptation, local authorities and communities need clear regional data, forecasts and guidance.
2. LCAT brings key climate data together in one free, easy‑to‑use online platform.
3. Co‑created with local decision‑makers, including councils and NHS trusts, LCAT has evolved based on user feedback.

How did we co-design LCAT?

The principle behind LCAT was co-design: the project team worked with local decision-makers from over 50 areas across the UK. This iterative process included test and review workshops, plus deep-dive topic workshops to build the content and design.

Accessible information was key. The health and community impacts and potential adaptations are displayed in systems diagrams known as “climate impact pathways”. These are interactive and presented across three layers of complexity (summary, complete, complete with adaptations) to meet different needs: some users prefer a top-line summary while others want more detail.

The resource design element of the project emphasised the need for engaging and appropriate communication. Complex data is shown in innovative ways with a move away from heavy text. The tone is positive and solution-focussed.

The team have also nurtured a Community of Practice, a space where over 200 members—including local authorities, health organisations, researchers, businesses, and community groups—come together to share ideas, discuss challenges, and directly collaborate in shaping the future of climate adaptation work.

What did we learn?

LCAT has been evaluated through a series of questionnaires and focus groups to understand user experience. To do this, we use a Theory of Change (TOC) methodology, which was co-designed with our partners at Cornwall Council.

The first round of evaluation found that LCAT:

1. Is quick and easy to use
2. Saves users time by curating data and literature in one place
3. Helps users build understanding while providing them with information for planning
4. Has already had an impact on planning and making changes in some cases
5. Gives users the data they need, in the right format

Alongside this, the co-design approach naturally led to a new community of practice for stakeholders, who support each other by sharing insights, learning and ideas. The insights have also been used to design the Local Climate Adaptation Guide for UK decision-makers which has been widely used across the UK.

Summary

1. Local authorities, organisations, businesses and communities need easily accessible, region-specific and accurate information to plan for and make adaptations.
2. LCAT can support these stakeholders by removing barriers to informed change. Short-termist strategies, lack of funding and capacity, along with limited climate change knowledge are all barriers to be overcome.
3. LCAT has been reviewed and re-shaped based on evaluation feedback and user insight.