August 14, 2024
Input from your group is invited to help shape the Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly (DCIoS) Climate Adaptation Strategy. This strategy aims to help communities and organisations understand the risks associated with climate change and to explore ways to mitigate them.
Please take some time to read through this article and the various resources available and then, as an individual or group, fill out the questionnaire offering your feedback, views and insights by the 30th June. Then please share widely and encourage others to offer their feedback. We are hugely grateful to Kim Howard at Rattery Environment Group and Sustainable South Brent who has pulled together many of the below pointers for local groups to help fast track your responses.
Climate change is extremely likely to cause strain on many aspects of our communities in the future, from infrastructure to homes, nature to public services. Being proactive in thinking about how we, as a society, can plan for and adapt to this allows us all an opportunity to work towards a fairer, healthier, more resilient society.
The Strategy highlights five main impact themes scored as being most severe for this region: river & surface water flooding; sea level rise (coastal flooding and erosion); reduced water availability (drought conditions); temperature change & extreme heat/cold; and cascading impacts that can be triggered by multiple hazards and cause substantial disruption.
It highlights that some actions intended for adaptation may actually cause harm. For example, increasing air conditioning to tackle heat will move away from a necessary low-carbon pathway. Planning ahead thoughtfully could play a key role in delaying such measures.
The Strategy lays out several Adaptation Plan Action Points. Those that might be most relevant for local environment groups look at:
- Working collaboratively to develop Community Resilience Groups and community adaptation plans
- Providing support & advice on nature enhancement to community groups
- Connecting local nature groups with landowners to understand benefits around alternative land use and support biodiversity
- Improving local food security
- Building community knowledge & awareness of climate health impacts
Several individual adaptation actions are also highlighted, such as rainwater harvesting, porous driveway/path surfaces and other flood resilience measures, checking insurance coverage, solar shading and passive cooling measures, insect screens, maintaining building structures and reducing water use.
Find all of the information about the Strategy here, including Quick Reads covering an Introduction, Climate Change Risk & Opportunity Assessment, Strategic Adaptation Plan & Action Plan. You can also read a Summary and the full Adaptation Strategy.