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Climate change influences everybody in every sector. New interactive diagrams have been produced to show how and where climate change impacts occur, why they are interconnected, and their consequences on human health and wellbeing. Known as climate impact pathways, they bring together information and data, visualising it in a way that supports a whole-area, multi-agency approach. These diagrams are part of the Local Climate Adaptation Tool (LCAT).
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Target audience
Public sector organisations, urban decision-makers, public health professionals.
The problem
Evidence of the impacts of climate change and potential adaptations to protect the health and well-being of our cities is continually growing. However, this evidence can be difficult to find, shrouded by scientific jargon, or focused only on actions relevant to single sectors. Adaptation action in many countries, including the UK, is lagging due to several barriers faced by local decision-makers, such as a lack of time, funding, and knowledge.
What we did and why
We gathered available evidence on the impacts of climate change and potential adaptations now and in the future in the UK. From this review, we developed systems diagrams that visualise the evidence in an accessible and interactive manner to facilitate the climate change planning process. These diagrams are part of the Local Climate Adaptation Tool (LCAT) which was co-produced with Cornwall Council and a National Stakeholder Group of local decision-makers.
Our study’s contribution
This study contributes a novel tool and methodology for local decision-makers to engage with during their climate change planning while focusing on the health of the public. Key features of LCAT and the impact pathways include
• Visualisation by interactive diagram of complex evidence
• Curation of evidence on cross-sector health impacts of climate change and options for adaptation
• Multiple viewing options that layer data from summary through to high level detail
• Accessible language, removing the jargon
Impacts for city policy and practice
The approach we developed promotes multi-agency, multi-sectoral practice, making climate adaptations and health everyone’s business by;
• Developing a whole-place, multi-agency understanding of climate adaptation
• Supporting a health in all policies approach
• Enabling a just and equitable approach to climate adaptation policy and planning
For further information, see;
Local Climate Adaptation Tool (LCAT): This tool shows local areas how local climates will change, health and community impacts in the UK, who will be most vulnerable, and potential adaptation options.
Introduction to Local Climate Adaptation: This is a guide for local areas on why adaptation matters, who should be involved, case studies from around the UK, and guidance on just and equitable approaches.
Further information
Full research article:
[OPEN ACCESS] Visualising cross-sector climate change impacts on health to support local decision-making by Marissa Rice, Jess Dicken, Timothy Taylor, Rhys Hobbs, Claire Below, Andrew Walton, Ceren Barlas, Simon Kirby & Emma Bland.
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