NI Adaptation Planning Toolkit

NI Adaptation

Public Bodies in NI

Adaptation to climate change is underway throughout public bodies in Northern Ireland, but at the moment it is often work which is undertaken for a different reason and therefore not captured. This is one of the key advantages of developing an adaptation plan - to capture the work ongoing as well as providing a cohesive strategy for the coming years.

This section will be updated regularly as NI public bodies make progress on planning for climate change.

The information provided on Local Government's progress towards developing Climate Change Adaptation Plan has been gathered through the mid-programme review of the NI Climate Change Adaptation Programme, published in 2022.

NI Local Government

Derry City and Strabane District Council

Derry City and Strabane District Council is the first NI Local Authority to develop a Climate Change Adaptation Plan, the plan was ratified by Council in 2020. DCSDC recognises that climate change transcends local boundaries and is working in partnership with Donegal County Council to address the climate emergency. This includes the development of the Regional Energy Strategy, Green Transformation Statement and North West Climate Action Framework with inclusion of adaptation as a core theme. Climate NI provided accredited Climate Emergency Training to Councillors and Council staff, improving knowledge and understanding of climate mitigation and adaptation.

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Belfast City Council

Belfast City Council has been working with Climate NI on the development of an Adaptation Plan which has been in development since May 2020. The draft plan was produced in September 2021. A Climate Risk Assessment and costed action plan is currently being developed by the Council. Climate NI provided accredited Climate Emergency Training to Councillors and Council staff, improving knowledge and understanding of climate mitigation and adaptation.

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Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council completed NI Adapts Steps 1 and 2 and are currently at Step 3. Stage 3 will be completed in late Autumn or early Winter 2022, as the Council now has an internal Climate Change Steering Group that will be overseeing this. Learning from the LGCAN June meeting regarding examples of good adaptation plans in place including Adaptation Scotland and CARO. These best practice plans will be considered during the drafting of our Adaptation Plan. Council is on track to have a published Adaptation Plan within the next year, therefore completing step 4 and 5 of the NI Adapts cycle, preferably ahead of the 2024 deadline. Climate NI provided accredited Climate Emergency Training to Councillors and Council staff, improving knowledge and understanding of climate mitigation and adaptation.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s Climate Change and Sustainable Development Strategy was approved in February 2021 and the Action Plan was launched in November 2021. The Action Plan includes climate mitigation and adaptation actions. In developing the Action Plan, workshops were held with staff to identify key roles and responsibilities in the development of the Action Plan. Two ‘Turning the Curve’ workshops were held with Community Planning Partners following the launch of the Action Plan to identify key partners who would lead on actions. Climate NI provided accredited Climate Emergency Training to Councillors and Council staff, improving knowledge and understanding of climate mitigation and adaptation.

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Ards and North Down Borough Council

Ards and North Council Borough Council is currently at Step 3 of the NI Adapts cycle, following completion of two cross-departmental workshops held in 2021. Meetings with individual service areas are being held to discuss and agree actions specific to each area. The Council has developed an Internal Sustainability Champions and Climate Working Group which includes staff who are actively engaged in the adaptation planning process. The Adaptation Plan will be linked to the Council Corporate Risk Strategy to ensure climate change and extreme weather scenarios are included within future plans, operations and strategies. The Council has also developed a Roadmap to Sustainability which was approved in March 2021 and includes actions on climate change mitigation and adaptation. Climate NI provided accredited Climate Emergency Training to Councillors and Council staff, improving knowledge and understanding of climate mitigation and adaptation.

Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council

Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council has completed Step 1 and 2 of the NI Adapts Adaptation Planning Toolkit and is currently preparing the risk register in advance of Step 3. During Step 1 the Council established a Core Working Group and a Wider Adaptation Working Group who have been engaged in Step 2 workshops. Climate NI provided accredited Climate Emergency Training to Councillors and Council staff, improving knowledge and understanding of climate mitigation and adaptation.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is currently on Step 3 having completed Steps 1 and 2 of the NI Adapts. The Council established the Head of Sustainability as the person responsible for this work. Established a Core Climate Focus Group within Council which is cross-departmental and includes 10 members of staff. A larger Cross Departmental Climate Working Group has also been established to support development of the Adaptation Plan. The Council has held a number of meetings and workshops to date and are now planning one-to-one meetings with service areas across Council on Risk Statements, Risk Register and the Climate Adaptation Plan. Work has continued on finalising the Risk Statements and Risk Register and preparing and drafting the Climate Adaptation Plan. Workshops will resume when the new Head of Sustainability is in post. Climate NI provided accredited Climate Emergency Training to Councillors and Council staff, improving knowledge and understanding of climate mitigation and adaptation.

Mid Ulster District Council

Mid Ulster District Council has completed Step 1 and 2 of the NI Adapts Adaptation Planning Toolkit and is currently on Step 3. A core working group was established within the Environmental Services Department. Workshops held as part of Step 2 included an extended working group with representatives from all Council departments. GIS maps showing Council assets with layers for climate change projections from NI Flood Maps are now available on the Council Intranet for all staff to use. The Council is now at Step 3 and are developing drafts of the risk register in advance of holding Workshop 2 in early 2023. Climate NI provided accredited Climate Emergency Training to Councillors and Council staff, improving knowledge and understanding of climate mitigation and adaptation.

Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council has completed Step 1 of the NI Adapts Adaptation Planning Toolkit and held the first workshop of Step 2 in Summer 2022. A wide range of staff from across Council service areas are attending this workshop. Climate NI provided accredited Climate Emergency Training to Councillors and Council staff, improving knowledge and understanding of climate mitigation and adaptation.

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

In December 2019 Mid and East Antrim Borough Council committed to completing the NI Adapts Adaptation Planning Cycle, supported by Climate NI, by 2024. The Council has completed Step 1 and 2 and are undertaking Step 3. Initial outcomes include identifying a lead contact for Adaptation Planning, establishing a core working group, and holding workshops with service managers from across all Council services to identify risks from past and future extreme weather events and their consequences on Council services. Council are currently working with service managers to identify and prioritise adaptation actions. Climate NI provided accredited Climate Emergency Training to Councillors and Council staff, improving knowledge and understanding of climate mitigation and adaptation.

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council

Information to be added soon

Local Government Plans Outside NI

Edinburgh Adapts

Edinburgh Adapts, the city’s first climate change adaptation action plan, has been developed to help the city prepare for and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

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Mayo County Council

Mayo County Council’s Climate Change Adaptation Strategy 2019-2024 sets out the strategic priorities, measures and responses for adaptation in County Mayo over the next five years; as required by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015.

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Climate Ireland Adaptation Strategy Explorer

Explore Adaptation Strategies from across the Republic of Ireland and guidance from University College Cork

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Adaptation Scotland: A Capability Framework for a Climate Ready Public Sector

Scotland Adapts: A Capability Framework for a Climate Ready Public Sector identifies four capabilities needed for an organisation’s adaptation journey.

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