A Well Adapting Region
Our approach to combating the impacts of unavoidable climate change will continue to develop throughout this Action Plan. There have been significant developments through the publication of the latest UK Climate Projections, and the requirement for national and statutory risk assessments, resulting from the UK Climate Change Act, will need to be integrated into regional planning and policy development.
The priority for the region is to develop an adaptation framework which encompasses our approach to identify the vulnerability of our communities, businesses, built and natural environment to future climate change and to understand how this adaptation capacity will be translated into adaptation actions.
The North West
Climate Change Adaptation Framework 
Just how well adapted is the North West to the warmer drier summers, milder wetter winters, rising sea levels and stormier weather we expect as a result of climate change?
This is the question that we have been trying to answer over the last 12 months through the consultation on a North West Climate Change Adaptation Framework.
This work is the first of its kind in England and has been attempting to understand if the various adaptation activities within the North West are sufficient to address the impacts of CC or whether there are gaps or areas which need further focus and support.
It has looked at a range of potential activities which exist around understanding and planning for as well as reducing and managing the flood risk, water resources and heat impacts of climate change. It also qualitatively assessed these activities from green through to red in terms of how well they help us adapt to climate change.
As a result of this process we feel that there are mechanisms in place to understand and manage climate impacts by providers of critical infrastructure. Emergency response is also fairly well covered, certainly in terms of managing current extreme events.
However, we still have gaps around our ability to manage the impacts of climate change, particularly around how we adapt our places and infrastructure, reach our businesses and communities and ensure we have a resilient natural environment which helps us adapt. This may be because we lack of delivery mechanisms and/or capacity, resources or responsibility for planning and managing certain impacts (such as increased temperatures), particularly in the shorter term. There is also a more immediate and general issue of resource and capacity deficits to support this Agenda going forward.
Click here to download the summary of the NWCCAF.
A full copy of the framework consultation document can also be downloaded from here
For further information
contact:
Matt Ellis
North West Climate Change Adaptation Coordinator
Environment Agency
T: 01925 542171
M: 07736036353
F: 01925 234762
matthew.ellis@environment-agency.gov.uk
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Actions for 'A Well Adapting Region':
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| Action 10.1 - Develop a regional adaptation framework which sets out the regional response to projected climate change impacts and capitalises on opportunities for implementation and demonstration, taking into account; The assessment of climate change impacts and responses for key business sectors and public services in the region. | Northwest Regional Development Agency |
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Action 10.2 - Develop a regional adaptation framework which sets out the regional response to projected climate change impacts and capitalises on opportunities for implementation and demonstration, taking into account; Flood and coastal risk management through catchment and shoreline management plans. |
Environment Agency |
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Action 10.3 - Develop a regional
adaptation framework which sets out the regional response to
projected climate change impacts and capitalises on opportunities
for implementation and demonstration, taking into account;
The regional assessment of the risks, opportunities
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Community Forests Northwest |
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Action 10.4 - Develop a regional adaptation framework which sets out the regional response to projected climate change impacts and capitalises on opportunities for implementation and demonstration, taking into account; The impacts on infrastructure and services identified through a regional dimension to the national Climate Change Risk Assessment and Economic Impact Analysis. |
Northwest Regional Development Agency |
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Action 10.5 - Develop a regional
adaptation framework which sets out the regional response to
projected climate change impacts and capitalises on opportunities
for implementation and demonstration, taking into account;
Adaptation response strategies for the region's
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Natural England |
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Action 10.6 - Develop a regional adaptation framework which sets out the regional response to projected climate change impacts and capitalises on opportunities for implementation and demonstration, taking into account; The implications of climate change projections on the delivery of regional health services. |
NHS North West |
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Action 10.7 - Develop a regional adaptation framework which sets out the regional response to projected climate change impacts and capitalises on opportunities for implementation and demonstration, taking into account; The assessment of the implications of climate change on existing and future built environment. |
Northwest Regional Development Agency |
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Action 10.8 - Develop a regional
adaptation framework whichsets out the regional response to
projected climate change impacts and capitalises on opportunities
for implementation and demonstration, taking into account;
The development and delivery of plans for water
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United Utilities |
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| Action 11 - Develop an engagement programme with our priority business sectors to encourage the assessment of critical risks and opportunities, and develop pilots to assess the impacts on national and international supply chains. | Northwest Regional Development Agency |
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