The Climate Change Commission’s third independent report states that ‘the gap between the level of risk we face and the level of adaptation underway has widened. Adaptation action has failed to keep pace with the worsening reality of climate risk.'
‘Around 4.5 million homes overheat, even in cool summers; 1.8 million people live in areas at significant risk of flooding; and average UK water consumption is higher than in many other European countries.'
Adaptation is the act of adapting our homes, businesses, infrastructure, and ways of life to the climate impacts which we know are coming (irrespective of efforts to reduce emissions). Key adaptation risks tend to relate to seasonal and weather variability due to climate change and will include sea level rise, heat, floods, storms, and changes to biodiversity, air quality and food production potential, and even human behaviours and movements.
In Gloucestershire, adaptation is urgently needed due to flood, drought and heat impacts, occurrences of which we have already seen all too regularly. Adaptation will also be a necessary component within planning for developments to ensure the resilience of new buildings in Gloucestershire, from both current and future climate change impacts, and to understand and protect the biodiversity our future habitats.
Beyond the direct and immediate impacts of extreme weather events on residents and businesses, there is a need to consider the resilience and resources of our emergency services, as well as the broader and longer term health implications for our residents due to both direct and in-direct impacts of these events.