Getting Ready for a Changing Climate: Supporting Councillor's Leadership Role in Adaptation

Adapting to climate change means adapting the way we do things - in all areas of our lives - to respond to the changing circumstances (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), What is adaptation? http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climate/adaptation/what.htm 2008). Adaptation is fundamentally a local issue - flooding, coastal erosion, agricultural patterns, employment, regeneration and land use all impact the local level. It is now recognised that local governments have an important role in grappling with the complex impacts of climate change and setting in motion plans for their services and communities. Councillors (elected members) play a key role in championing adaptation at the local level. Their ongoing enthusiasm in driving forward the green agenda, their awareness of the risks of business as usual and their passion for community wellbeing puts them in the best position to develop public awareness of, and the political will, for taking action on adaptation. This paper identifies councillors' leadership role in the adaptation agenda. It presents a checklist with five suggested actions for councillors. On communicating the adaptation agenda to the public, councillors could use more simple language, give practical examples and use more innovative channels of communications. On supporting their councils to take action, councillors could present a business case for adaptation and help build partnerships for delivery.