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West Midlands Climate Impacts and Adaptation Partnership

About Us

We focus on preparing for the changing climate in the West Midlands to ensure social, economic and environmental prosperity.

The West Midlands recognises that it needs to adapt (prepare for the impacts of climate change). Less money will be spent on dealing with the consequences of climate change and communities will face less exposure to the risks. The environment will be improved rather than permanently damaged.  Visit the climate adaptation page to find out more about general climate change impacts and adaptation (link to responding to the impacts of climate change).

The partnership involves representatives from across the public and private sectors working together to face up to the climate challenge. It is funded by the Environment Agency, Advantage West Midlands, Defra and Severn Trent, and receives support and advice from the UK Climate Impacts Programme.

Chaired by the West Midlands Centre for Construction Excellence the objectives of the partnership are to:~

• raise awareness of climate change risks and opportunities
• identify knowledge gaps and research needs 
• build adaptive capacity e.g. influence policy and develop skills
• deliver adaptation action e.g. infrastructure designed to cope with a future climate
• identify resources for adaptation

History

In 2004 we published a study into 'the Potential Impacts of Climate Change in the West Midlands`.
This outlines many of the issues facing the region and was followed by workshops to develop projects (hyperlink to Acclimatise report on projects) that lead to practical actions or fill knowledge gaps to address some of the priority issues.  These projects are now being developed into working groups.

Structure

Our structure consists of an executive group, the partnership (link to partnership page) and working groups that focus on ‘how to adapt’.

Executive Group

The executive group includes the Director of SWM, representatives of the funding organisations, chairs of the working groups, the coordinator and the UK Climate Impacts Programme. This group provides strategic advice, identifies funding opportunities, undertakes business planning, represents the partnership  and ensures that leaders are engaged with its work. They endorse the work programme of the partnership.

Please click here to find out more about the work of Partnership members and working groups

Joining the SWM Climate Change Partnership

The partnership provides members with a wide range of benefits. This includes access to climate change experts (UKCIP), latest science, research and tools, examples of climate proofed projects, policy development, other organisations tackling the same issues and media opportunities to promote good practice and raise the profile of their forward thinking work. It also provides exposure to the work of other sectors and their adaptive responses.

If you wish to discuss joining the partnership please email admin@swm.org.uk

Created by: Louise Clancy, 2007 Modified by: Louise Clancy, 2007