Adaptation Plan
for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
Creating a resilient, net-zero Devon, where people and nature thrive!
Introduction
Devon Climate Emergency is working on the development of two key plans: the Devon Carbon Plan, which was published in September 2022, and the Adaptation Plan for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Together, these plans will help the Southwest both mitigate, and adapt to climate change.
The Adaptation Plan is intended to help communities across the Southwest to better understand the risks their area might face in future, as climate change increasingly affects the UK. It will also help them to adapt to these changes, by identifying the parties responsible for ensuring community safety.
Structure
Development of the Adaptation Plan is being overseen by the Climate Impacts Group. This group is responsible for assessing the impacts faced in the Southwest region, and reviewing current levels of community preparedness for a warmer world.
Our progress so far…
The Climate Impacts Group (CIG) has produced climate projections for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to 2059, with the support of the Met Office. The group has reviewed the projections and interpreted its implications for public health, flood risk and the environment in the South West.
This work has led to the creation of a draft Climate Change Risk Register – a document which identifies the range of climate impacts that the South West is facing, and scores each of them depending on their likelihood and potential impact.
Since August 2022, environmental consultants RSK have been working with the CIG to progress the Adaptation Plan. The Risk Register has been reviewed, cross referenced with the UK Government’s third national Climate Change Risk Register (CCRA3) and updates made. Strategic level actors relevant to the management of identified risks have been recorded, as well as urgency scores assigned to the risks, indicating where more action is needed.
RSK conducted workshops with the CIG in November 2022 to identify strategic adaptation options and actions to respond to the identified climate impacts. These adaptation options are being finalised during January 2023.
Finally, the CIG is now working to identify priorities for regional collaboration on adaptation in the next five years and set these out in an Action Plan, which will complete the Adaptation Plan.
The Adaptation Plan is expected to be published for a public consultation in spring 2023. After the consultation is complete, we will be able to incorporate any feedback before finalizing the plan and working with organizations to put it into practice.
Taking Action
Learning Resources
Learning about the potential climate risks we face here in the UK can seem like a daunting task. Here, we have put together some resources to help you understand how our climate is changing, and will continue to change as the effects of global warming increase.
Factsheet for Children and Young People
This fact sheet was developed by UK Climate Risk as part of an independent assessment into how climate change will impact the United Kingdom. It explains the difference between weather and climate; explains how and why the UK’s climate is changing, and informs readers about what needs to be done to help the UK adapt.
Video explaining UK Climate Risk
Developed by the Climate Change Committee, this accessible video explains how climate change is currently impacting the UK, before outlining what we need to do to adapt.
Climate Impact Reports
Here are links to our Climate Impact Reports, which demonstrate the effects climate change will have on the health, safety and wellbeing of communities in Devon.
