How do local stakeholders prepare for climate change? The effects of climate change are wide-ranging, covering all sorts of sectors from health care to housing. Geography also has an impact, with coastal and inland regions experiencing different issues.
To help support local authorities such as councils, the NHS and transport planners, a team from the University of Exeter and Cornwall Council are developing a multi-agency tool that can support local decision-makers to understand the implications of climate change in their area and make recommendations for action. The prototype was developed for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and it is now being further developed across the country.
Here’s a bit more about the Local Climate Adaptation Tool (LCAT) and the plans for its future development and use. If you have any question please contact the LCAT team via: LCAT@exeter.ac.uk
The Local Climate Adaptation Tool allows the user to explore local climate models. It enables them to see how climate change will impact the health and wellbeing of people in their area, and it makes recommendations for actions. All these factors are based on the best available current evidence.
The LCAT project team initially spent a year exploring how local stakeholders were adapting to climate change, how they were working with other agencies to make decisions, and what the barriers were to action. The findings were clear: not much was happening.
Stakeholders felt they had limited access to guidance, information and support, and identified a need to be able to access future climate models. These findings led to the creation of the Local Climate Adaptation Tool.
Having completed the initial trial, we’re now working with local service providers (our stakeholders) across the UK. Through a co-design process, we’re developing a decision-making support tool that responds to local needs and challenges, as identified by our stakeholders. BlueAdapt will test and expand the tool to include more information about coastal zones.
Here’s our plan:
The health and wellbeing impacts of climate change on communities and individuals are complex and wide ranging, affecting everything from health care to transport.
Those with the least resilience to the effects of climate change are often the most vulnerable, due to factors such as health, housing, financial and social inequalities. Things like quality of housing and access to green spaces are hugely significant local issues.
To be able to reduce inequalities and build resilient communities, a joined-up approach is essential. This is at the centre of LCAT. The tool supports multi-agency professionals in proactively planning mitigation for local climate change impacts.
You can find out more about the Local Climate Adaptation Tool on the University of Exeter website.
With our thanks to participating councils across the UK.