Climate Change Adaptation in Flintshire

1. Climate Change Adaptation work in
Flintshire
Our Story so far
Erica Mackie Policy Advisor

2. What this presentation covers
» Background
» What we tested
» Lessons learnt
» What we found
» Where are we now
» Next steps
» Some of the challenges ahead

3. Climate Change Adaptation in Flintshire
Aim – Climate Adaptation Planning and Resilience
» Pilot project as part of WLGA Sustainable Development
framework
» Asked - What does a changing climate mean for
services and communities of Flintshire?
» What needs to change to adapt now and for the future?

4. Climate Change Adaptation in Flintshire
What we tested
» Used existing tools e.g. Local Climate Impact Profiles
(LCLIP) and Business Area Climate Impact Tools
(BACLIAT)
What we envisaged
» Enhanced strategic planning and service delivery by
mapping likely impacts and consequences

5. Climate Change Adaptation in Flintshire
What we tested
» The tools LCLIP and BACLIAT
» How to consider community risk
» Consequences and spatial impact and systemic risk
» The reality of community well being – ‘game
changers’, ‘cross cutting’, it has more than one home
» Explored evidence base and organisational
readiness
» Understanding and capacity for collaborative
approaches to adaptation

6. Climate Change Adaptation in Flintshire
What we found
» No single organisation can prepare adaptation plans on
their own.
» The LCLIP provided a sound evidence base
» The BACLIAT – not as useful as it did not address
‘knitting together’ the strategic canopy. Finger
pointing! Lack of understanding with mitigation/business
continuity.

7. Climate Change Adaptation in Flintshire
Key Lessons learnt - Adaptation is still difficult
territory because it challenges (still)
» Status quo – business as usual
» Professional territories Carefully laid plans that
organisations and officials are attached to.
» Difference between mitigation, business continuity
and adaptation

8. Climate Change Adaptation in Flintshire
Where are we now?
» Adaptation Planning is part of Single Integrated Plan –
Priority 4 : Carbon Reduction and Adaptation Planning
» 5 Strategic Shared Risks have been identified
» Infrastructure
» Natural Resource Systems
» The Economy
» Our Communities
» Our Systems

9. Climate Change Adaptation in Flintshire
What these risks mean
» Integrating policy/strategies to support adaptation planning.
» Improving the resilience of existing development and infrastructure
to the impacts of a changing climate.
» Promoting new development and infrastructure to be designed,
located and constructed for a climate it will need to tolerate over
its lifespan.
» Reducing social inequality including health
» Promoting adaptation of the natural environment.
» Assisting public sector and institutions to integrate climate change
planning in their business planning cycles
» To prepare business, and town and community councils for a
changing climate.

10. Climate Change Adaptation in Flintshire
» Working on two risks – Critical Infrastructure
» Infrastructure because all organisations of the LSB
rely on it and
» Assets because we all have them.

11. Climate Change Adaptation in Flintshire
» Have 2 fora for these risks that go beyond the LSB
partners e.g. utilities, water etc
» These fora explored
» What we needed to know in order to provide an
adaptation solution
» Did we have evidence?
» Did we have sufficient understanding?
» How could we go forward?
» Would we be able to ‘cost’ solutions?

12. Climate Change Adaptation in Flintshire
» Next Steps
» Single Integrated Plan to be validated at next LSB meeting
(April 2014)
» Going forward - over the period of the plan
» Continue collaborative working is essential as no single
organisation can implement adaptation planning without it
having an effect on other organisations.
» Retain cooperation and commitment of partners is fundamental
to understanding the holistic financial implications of extreme
weather events.
» On a rolling programme explore the vulnerability of the
remaining risks.
» Continue to ensure that the risk of climate change is managed.
» Monitor progress against Infrastructure and Assets
» Start to explore reporting through systems of partners.

13. Climate Change Adaptation in Flintshire
Supporting this by
» Realising we must consider probability, consequence
and vulnerably
» Considering frequency and intensity
» Have developed a prioritising matrix to ensure holistic
approach to adaptation
» Must ensure not to recommend Mal Adaptation!
» Have a plan………………….. An overview and some
operational actions to start the planning process
» Realising this could make difficult recommendations

14. Climate Change Adaptation in Flintshire
» Challenges and uncertainties still to face
» National Direction – to enable us to make difficult
recommendations and to spend well!
» Conflict of shoreline management plan – hold the line
» Rail network intentions
» Local Resilience Forum including adaptation
» Mergers of Local Councils
» Calculating cost and benefit – across organisations
» Pacify the doubters
» Provide ‘no fear’ messages

15. Climate Change Adaptation in Flintshire
» The story hasn’t got to the final chapter yet….. So we
don’t know if we have a happy ending!
» Thank you
» Any questions?