Building climate-resilient communities: experts call for integrated adaptation strategies

26 March 2025

A joint presidential webinar by CIWEM and ADEPT brought together leaders in local government and water and environmental management to discuss climate resilience and adaptation. Experts shared challenges, solutions and the urgent need for collaboration to embed adaptation into policy and practice

The event, hosted between the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) and the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT) presidential teams, explored the role of placemaking to support communities to adapt to the increasing impacts of climate change, withexpert speakers sharing challenges, solutions and the urgent need for collaboration to embed adaptation into policy and practice.

Opening the discussion: a shared focus on resilience

Ann Carruthers, president of ADEPT, opened the session by emphasising the alignment between ADEPT’s and CIWEM’s presidential themes, both focused on resilience. ADEPT’s theme this year centres on system, organisational and community resilience, while CIWEM’s theme, led by president Hannah Burgess, explores the ‘ripple effect’ – scaling up resilience and adapting at pace to climate change. Both organisations recognise that local authorities, water and environmental managers and other placebased leaders must work together to build sustainable and adaptive communities.

Case study 1: Westmorland and Furness Council – a place-based approach

Angela Jones, director of thriving places at Westmorland and Furness Council and incoming ADEPT president, presented a case study on climate adaptation in Cumbria. She highlighted the need to embed climate resilience into everyday decision-making, using a holistic ‘place’ perspective that considers how people live, work, travel and interact with nature.

Cumbria faces increasing climate risks, including flooding, severe storms, droughts and sea-level rise. Jones outlined how the council integrates climate adaptation into planning through its local nature recovery strategy, climate action plans and a new local plan that ties resilience goals into infrastructure and economic development.

She also discussed the Cumbria Flood Innovation Resilience Programme, a six-year, £6.6 million initiative aimed at improving climate resilience in small rural communities. Traditional flood defences are often unviable in these areas, so the project focuses on natural flood management solutions, working closely with communities, farmers and landowners to implement landscape-scale adaptation measures.

One standout example is the Walney Island project, which combines environmental enhancement, coastal erosion management, and placemaking. By integrating nature-based solutions with local culture and community engagement, the project demonstrates how adaptation can improve both resilience and quality of life.

Jones stressed that collaboration, data-driven decision-making and long-term strategic vision are key to successful adaptation. She urged local authorities to align climate adaptation with economic and health strategies to maximise co-benefits.

Case study 2: Norfolk County Council – water at the heart of placemaking

Wendy Brooks, head of environment at Norfolk County Council, and a trustee of CIWEM, shared insights into the Norfolk Water Strategy Programme, a partnership-driven approach addressing water security challenges. Norfolk faces multiple water-related pressures, including flooding, coastal erosion and deteriorating water quality, compounded by climate change and population growth.

The strategy prioritises nature-based solutions, such as restoring natural hydrological processes to improve water retention and reduce flood risk. Wendy highlighted a recent floodplain reconnection project on the River Yare, delivered in partnership with Norfolk Rivers Trust, which not only mitigates flooding but also enhances biodiversity and supports local agriculture.

© Josh Jaggard - Norfolk Water Strategy Programme, River Yare river restoration

The programme also explores innovative funding mechanisms, leveraging private investment alongside public funding to scale up interventions. A key success factor has been engaging developers, water companies and conservation organisations in collaborative financing models.

Another major initiative is the Broadland Futures Initiative, a 100-year strategy for flood and coastal resilience in the Norfolk Broads. Given the region’s vulnerability to sea-level rise, the project focuses on adaptive pathways – long-term planning approaches that allow flexibility in responding to evolving risks. Brooks emphasised that securing political and community buy-in is essential for such long-term climate strategies.

© Peter Doktor - Potter Heigham marshes in Nov 2023

Panel discussion: overcoming barriers to climate adaptation

The panel discussion, featuring all speakers alongside Paul Shaffer, director of projects at CIWEM, tackled key challenges in funding, governance and cross-sector collaboration.

One of the central themes was the difficulty of securing investment for adaptation. While climate resilience requires long-term funding, government investment is often fragmented and short-term, making it difficult for councils to plan effectively. Jones pointed out that national government departments continue to work in silos, making it challenging to secure integrated funding. However, devolution offers an opportunity for local authorities to incorporate climate resilience into regional economic strategies, provided financial mechanisms are in place to support long-term initiatives.

The private sector also has a role to play, with businesses standing to benefit from resilient infrastructure and ecosystems. Yet, as Brooks highlighted, engaging these stakeholders requires clear articulation of the economic benefits of adaptation measures.

Another key barrier is the internal structure of local authorities, where climate resilience often falls between departments. Jones described how her council ensures adaptation is seen as a corporate priority, rather than a responsibility of one department. This cross-cutting approach brings together transport, planning, public health and economic development teams to align strategies and objectives. Brooks also noted the importance of leadership in driving change, stressing that senior buy-in is crucial for embedding adaptation into decision-making.

The discussion also explored the role of data and technology. Shaffer emphasised that while there is a wealth of climate data available, it is often underutilised due to resource constraints. AI and digital tools offer new opportunities for predictive modelling and risk assessment, but many local authorities lack the funding and expertise to fully harness these technologies. More centralised data-sharing initiatives could help bridge this gap and support evidence-based decision-making.

A recurring theme was the power of nature-based solutions in addressing multiple climate hazards. Both case studies demonstrated how natural approaches can reduce flood risk, improve biodiversity and support local economies. However, panellists agreed that current funding models fail to account for the long-term value of ecosystem-based interventions. Without a shift in approach, local authorities may struggle to implement nature-based solutions at scale.

Nutrient neutrality was another pressing issue, particularly in Norfolk, where housing developments have been stalled due to environmental constraints. Wendy expressed concerns over government proposals to move to a strategic rather than site-specific mitigation approach, questioning whether current plans provide sufficient tools for effective implementation. While she agreed that a more strategic approach is needed, she warned that interventions must be planned in advance to avoid biodiversity loss.

Looking forward: the path to resilient communities

The webinar underscored the urgent need to move from strategy to implementation in climate adaptation. While many local authorities have developed resilience plans, securing long-term funding and breaking down silos remain significant hurdles.

Ann Carruthers closed the session by reinforcing the importance of collaboration across local government, businesses and environmental organisations. Climate adaptation is not a challenge for the future – it is a present reality that requires coordinated action today.

The conversation is far from over, and both ADEPT and CIWEM will continue to advocate for integrated, place-based approaches that build climate resilience at every level of society.

President of CIWEM, Hannah Burgess, said: “I was delighted to arrange and host this session with ADEPT. Placemaking needs collaboration from local government and environmental professionals and this was a great opportunity to share perspectives.”

A recording of the webinar will be available soon on the CIWEM YouTube channel. You can find more CIWEM events, including on climate resilience and adaptation, here.

About the author: Jo Caird is the editor of The Environment magazine