What is climate change adaptation?

In recent years, the UK and other parts of the world have experienced more frequent extreme weather, including flooding, heatwaves and drought. The summer of 2022 saw the highest temperatures ever recorded in the UK, with drought declared in many areas. 2023 was the warmest year on record globally, and 2025 brought further warm and dry conditions, with drought affecting parts of the UK. Alongside this, the UK has also experienced significant flooding in recent years, including during 2023 and early 2024 when Storm Babet and Storm Henk brought heavy rainfall and flooding to parts of the country.

As the climate continues to change, these kinds of events are likely to happen more often. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is essential to limit future warming and avoid the worst impacts of climate change. However, we also need to adapt to the changes already happening, and those expected in the future.

Without adaptation, climate change could affect many aspects of daily life, including:

• Changes to local wildlife and natural habitats, with some species declining while others move to new areas.
• Impacts on health and wellbeing, especially during periods of extreme heat.
• Increased pressure on infrastructure and essential services, such as transport and energy.
• Challenges for food production and water supplies.
• Greater disruption from flooding, particularly in more vulnerable areas.

These impacts are wide-ranging and may affect people and places in different ways.

Our approach to climate change adaptation

The Council is committed to helping our environment, communities and services cope with the impacts of a changing climate.

This work is happening across different Council services and with local partners. We are continuing to build our understanding of how climate change could affect the district and what we can do in response.

This includes:

• Supporting nature and wildlife, including through biodiversity projects and nature-based solutions.
• Working with local organisations and partners to better understand climate risks and how to respond to them.
• Taking climate change into account, where we can, when managing buildings, infrastructure and public spaces.
• Looking for ways to improve how we prepare for and respond to extreme weather over time.

Climate change adaptation remains an important part of our response to climate change, helping to protect our communities and environment now and in the future.