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The need for the UK to improve its resilience to the effects of severe weather is now being discussed in town halls across the country. Nick Appleyard reports Whether you believe it's causes are man made or not, we are experiencing a change in our climate. And while the majority of attention turns to efforts to strike a global deal on reducing emissions, there is a compelling case for immediate adaptation action. The need for the UK to improve its resilience to the effects of severe weather events has been highlighted annually over the past decade – through extreme flooding, and more often than not in recent years, by the seasonal transport chaos caused by snow and ice. The forecasts are that these events will become more common in the future, due to our changing climate. So, there is no question. The sector must react to this threat in order to protect communities and services. But it will have to do so during a time of squeezed public spending. The Committee on Climate Change has called on councils to look at the economic business case for adaptation. It says that by linking the expected costs of climate impacts, an overwhelming case can be made in favour of action to mitigate them. The secretariat is currently developing a cost-curve to help sell the case for adaptation measures. The UK's biggest threat is posed by flooding. Last week, while revealing which flood-defence projects would be funded this year, environment minister, Richard Benyon, said: ‘Schemes which will contribute the most in terms of protection to households and economic benefit per pound spent have been prioritised'. So environment chiefs hoping to secure a slice of the £2.1bn made available for flood defence during this Parliament will be identifying cost beneficial adaptation. The same goes for roads. After three successive shockers, as far as winter weather goes, councils must now spare cash to patch up their highways. If they fail to do so, they will face a surge in liability claims. But where does the money come from? Some tough decisions are currently being taken in town halls across the UK. And them, an economic argument will be made in favour of adapting to the effects of climate change. Not to save the world, or because the environment lobby says you have a moral duty to, but to protect communities and ensure access to frontline services.

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WHITEHALL

Weather brings deluge of town hall challenges

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