Here in Wales, we are already seeing the impacts of climate change with wetter winters, warmer summers, and more unpredictable weather patterns.
The results of these events can be devastating, impacting our homes, businesses operations, local infrastructure, transport, energy systems, our health and our communities.
This guide provides an overview of how your organisation could be affected by weather – including extreme events – and what steps you can take to prepare for the impact of climate change – both in the present and future – by developing or contributing to an adaptation plan.
What is climate change adaptation?
Climate mitigation
Climate change mitigation means avoiding and reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.
Climate adaptation
Climate change adaptation means altering our behaviour, systems, and – in some cases – way of life to protect assets, buildings, businesses, people, the environment and society from the worst projected impacts of climate change.
Climate resilience
Climate resilience can also be used to refer to adaptation.
A certain amount of climate change has already occurred, and whatever amount of mitigation we do, a degree of future climate change is inevitable.
Adaptation is about responding to the local impacts of climate change and reducing our vulnerabilities to these impacts. For Wales, impacts may include flooding and extreme heat.
Increasing flood protection (through hard engineering or nature-based solutions such as restoring peat bogs) or planting street trees in cities (which have a cooling effect) are both examples of adaptation.
Some adaptation examples ALSO mitigate climate change.
Why do we need to take action?
“Wales is our home, and we need to protect it for the benefit of future generations. We know that the increased frequency and intensity of flooding, coastal erosion, storms, heatwaves and droughts have widespread impacts across the whole of Wales, from our coastal cities to the South Wales Valleys, to the rural landscapes of Mid and North Wales. Everyone will be affected, and we all need to understand the risks and prepare for the future.” Climate Adaptation Strategy for Wales 2024
Climate change is already happening. In 2023-24 Wales experienced the wettest winter since records began. In July 2022, a new maximum daily temperature was recorded in Wales of 37.1°C in Hawarden Airport, Flintshire.
Flooding and extreme heat are already affecting daily life for many people in our own communities as well as further afield; it’s not just a future risk.
The Climate Change Committee’s Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA3-IA) has identified 61 risks and opportunities from climate change in Wales, including to business, infrastructure, housing, the natural environment, our health, and risks from the impacts of climate change internationally.
We are in a climate emergency
Our global efforts are not enough to avoid inevitable impacts from climate change. We need to adapt to the impacts that are already happening, and those that are likely to happen. It is therefore crucial that any adaptation strategy is developed alongside an initial plan of action with practical actions that can be implemented quickly on the ground.
Take action – what can you do?
For businesses and organisations, there are several actions you can take.
Resources: Assessing your risk
Climate Change Committee | Adapting to climate change progress in Wales
An independent assessment of progress in adapting to climate change in Wales.
UK Climate Risk | Summary for Wales – Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA3-IA)
The independent assessment used to help inform the third UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA3) assesses 61 risks and opportunities from climate change in Wales, including to business, infrastructure, housing, the natural environment, our health, and risks from the impacts of climate change internationally.
Natural Resources Wales | Climate Change risk assessment framework for PSBs
Section 38 of the Well-being of Future Generations Act requires Public Service Boards (PSBs) to take account of the latest UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) when preparing their Well-being Assessments. This framework has been created by NRW in collaboration with the Welsh Government and Public Health Wales, for use by PSB practitioners.
NICW | A Perfect Storm: Is Wales doing enough to co-ordinate action and engage communities in adapting our infrastructure to a changing climate? Highlights the issues faced by infrastructure providers and communities in engaging with, and responding to, the impacts of climate change.
DataMapWales | Data and maps from the Welsh public sector. Includes maps showing local climate patterns and National flood hazard maps.
The Met Office | Local Authority Climate Explorer
The Met Office’s Local Authority Climate Explorer helps UK Local Authorities and others understand climate risks and build resilience. Access local Climate Reports, explore the Climate Explorer, and find guidance on assessing risks and taking action to adapt to climate change.
Resources: Addressing your risk
Welsh Government | Climate Adaptation Strategy for Wales (2024) — Wales’s strategic approach to adapting to climate change. Here you will find 15 strategic cross-sector adaptation action plans. Each action plan sets out what a climate resilient future would look like, Welsh Government actions and the roles and actions needed from wider stakeholders. This includes their ‘asks’ for the general public, public sector, Welsh business and industry.
These action plans are broadly aligned with the 12 systems set out within the Climate Change Committee’s Climate adaptation monitoring framework.
Maximising UK Adaptation to Climate Change (MACC) Hub |Aims to address climate risks by examining the levers of change for adaptation in the UK and advancing transformative climate adaptation strategies. Features project examples and stories from Wales including the Fairbourne coastal risk management learning project.
West Midlands Combined Authority | Climate Adaptation Literacy Training. Training to help your staff understand and respond to climate risk.
Addressing your risk – Communities
Flooding
- Advice on Preparing for a flood, What to do in a flood and What to do after a flood | NRW
- Natural Resources Wales provide a service to download or request advice leaflets and flood plan templates for home, business, farm and school, in alternative formats and languages to share in your community.
Storms
- Prepare for a storm or thunderstorm | British Red Cross. Useful practical guidance.
Cold Weather
Hot Weather
- Heatwaves in the UK – how to cope with extreme heat Heatwaves in the UK | Support and advice | British Red Cross
- Extreme Hot Weather – Public Health Wales
- Drought in the UK – UK Drought: Preparing for water shortage | British Red Cross
Wildfires
- Get Firewise with a Wildfire Action Plan – Firewise Cymru is a programme which empowers neighbours and communities to take responsibility and work together to reduce their risk from wildfires.
- Wildfires – how to prevent fires and stay safe. Provides more detailed information – Wildfires UK: Prepare and stay safe | British Red Cross
Addressing your risk – Business and organisations
Business Wales | Natural Resources Wales have updated guidance on how to prepare your business for a flood
Business Wales | Future Proofing Toolkit
Sustainability West Midlands | Weathering the storm
A practical guide for SMEs, to help you understand how you could be affected by weather, including extreme events, and how you can improve your chances of a quick recovery. The guide also sets out business opportunities from responding to a changing climate and provides useful tools and contact information to help you become more resilient.
Cadw | Adapting to Climate Change – a climate adaptation plan for Wales’s historic environment.
Resources: Working together
Working together to produce local adaptation plans
Cwm Taf Morgannwg | Climate Change Risk Assessment
This is a climate change risk assessment report and resource for the Public Service Board area, providing information for businesses, communities and residents in the area on the risks, and the actions they can take to minimise impact.
Sustainability West Midlands | Climate Change Adaptation good practice examples
This document provides a compendium of good practice examples that demonstrate climate change adaptation planning and action that UK local authorities are taking.
Top tips for preparing an adaptation plan
With thanks to Alan Carr from Sustainability West Midlands for originally sharing his ‘Top tips for adaptation planning’ at a recent Cynnal Cymru membership event and for advice on developing local adaptation plans.
Develop your understanding of climate change and the risks – and ensure it is evidence-based
By learning more about climate change, you will be better equipped to understand the climate risks you face. The Met Office provides guidance on what climate change is, what it means for the UK, and how it is linked to extreme weather and its impacts.
From real-life stories from your stakeholders to help identify flood risk areas, to climate projection data; use existing tools and datasets to help you identify the risks now and in the future.
The Met Office’s Local Authority Climate Service provides tools and resources that have been specifically designed for Local Authorities, to help you better understand climate change in your local area and support your adaptation journey.
Identify and involve key stakeholders from the beginning on a place-based approach
Successful adaptation plans need to involve the whole community, not just one organisation. If you are an organisation, make sure your own plan aligns with anything going on at a place level; this typically sits with your local council.
Identify and involve key stakeholders from start to finish. Local knowledge is vital for a successful plan. You need to know what else is happening in the area, how adaptation could be integrated into existing good practice or on-going activity, and where specific problems and concerns lie, so that you can tailor your actions accordingly. This could involve workshops, surveys, and discussions with a variety of stakeholders.
Keep it action-oriented, focused and prioritised on ‘no regret’ or ‘quick win’ actions.
We’re in a climate emergency, so keep your plan action oriented.
What is your area of focus? You cannot do everything, but you can prioritise where you can make a difference. This could include a local community-driven approach where you are able to identify small steps at community or household level.
To help you prioritise actions for an adaptation plan, rank them by urgency, feasibility, and potential co-benefits.
‘No regret’ or ‘low regret’ actions are cost-effective or inexpensive to implement and are often a good place to start. Examples include visible quick wins like tree planting or water saving.
Align actions with existing policy, co-benefits or existing investment
Show how your adaptation aligns with existing corporate plans, net zero targets or with the Well-being of Future Generations Act and Public Service Boards. This helps to make a business case by demonstrating how it might strengthen the economy or improve health benefits.
Consider actions that also support mitigation such as helping to increase biodiversity or to improve health.
Dedicated funding may be scarce, so look at how you could integrate adaptation plans into net zero and retrofit programs to maximise resources.
Continue monitoring and reporting on progress and collaborating with partners
Set up accountability and monitoring early on. This must be built in from the start of the process. Then use the monitoring and reporting, together with site visits in the plan area, to help to continue partnership building.
Project examples for local adaptation plans
ARUP | Greener Grangetown
Greener Grangetown is a sustainable drainage system (SuDS) project that has also been designed to transform the quality of the public realm and improve cycling and pedestrian infrastructure. Their pioneering approach was brought together by civil engineers and the placemaking team to create ‘raingardens’ that slow rainwater run-off flows and remove contaminants, cleaning and diverting rainwater directly into the nearby River Taff.
10,000 Raingardens for Scotland
The 10,000 Raingardens for Scotland campaign is designed to promote and encourage the use of raingardens as a sustainable and natural way to manage water, particularly in urban areas. It will also support the creation of wildlife-friendly, accessible green spaces, reduce pollution, and provide attractive places for people to visit.
The Green Valleys (Wales) is a multi-award-winning Community Interest Company based in Bannau Brycheiniog (formerly the Brecon Beacons), Wales. They support communities to generate sustainable social, economic and environmental benefits through transition to a low carbon emission future. This includes climate adaptation measures such as biodiversity and woodland creation.
How can Cynnal Cymru – Sustain Wales help?
Nature-Based Solutions have an important part to play in adapting to the impacts of climate change. Our Nature Wise Eco Literacy course can help you understand the risk and identify actions that you, your business or your community can take as a ‘quick win’.
Our accredited Carbon Literacy training includes a section on climate adaptation within the context of mitigation and encourages individuals to identify and pledge actions for change at home, in their communities or workplaces.
Our members and funders support and contribute to good practice networks and events, which have included climate adaptation and planning for the future.
