Communities to help tackle climate change

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is working with University of Birmingham experts to significantly enhance the West Midlands region’s capacity to adapt to the effects of climate change in urban areas.

Backed by £2 million of Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) funding, the WM-Adapt project sees University researchers and WMCA policymakers working with regional partners to better understand how the region can withstand the challenges of climate change.

In July 2022, the West Midlands experienced unprecedented temperatures exceeding 38°C, leading to widespread disruptions including overheating in homes, school closures, travel chaos, and increased emergency incidents.

Flash flooding has also become a regular occurrence, causing road closures, property damage, and sewage overflows. 

Without effective adaptation, the socio-economic impacts of climate change are likely to escalate, potentially reducing the region’s Gross Value Added (GVA) - the value of goods and services - between £1.5 billion - £2.9 billion per year by 2050.

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Residents across the West Midlands need practical solutions to protect their homes and livelihoods from the devastating effects of flooding and extreme temperatures brought on by climate change.

“This groundbreaking project will empower communities with the tools and knowledge they need to understand and tackle these risks, helping us to build a sustainable and secure future for everyone.”

The multi-disciplinary project involves a team of 10 experts from three of the University’s five Colleges runs for 30 months. It will identify barriers, incentives, and opportunities for community-scale adaptation, and deliver climate science to inform policy and support measures across the West Midlands.

WM-Adapt builds on the success of the Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA) co-created with Birmingham City Council in 2022/23 and the West Midlands CRVA. This tool is now integral to city planning processes, providing a scalable means to map risk and vulnerability using open access datasets.

The project will advance the CRVA with better understanding of overheating and flooding caused by heavy rain, adding new layers of analysis showing the health and economic impacts of climate risk.

Project Leader Dr Emma Ferranti said: “WM-Adapt represents a major step forward in our efforts to build climate resilience in the West Midlands.

"By integrating community perspectives into the existing adaptation work, undertaking new modelling of surface water flooding and the urban heat island, and bringing together regional organisations, we aim to create a robust framework that can be replicated across the UK."

Professor Andrew Quinn, from the University of Birmingham, added: “WM-Adapt will encourage knowledge exchange and working with communities and regional organisations to co-develop solutions - sharing knowledge and resources nationally to ensure that the West Midlands benefits from and contributes to broader adaptation initiatives.

“Ultimately, the project aims to deliver a step-change in adaptive capacity and climate action that contribute to a more resilient and adaptive West Midlands, better prepared to face the challenges posed by climate change."