Climate Adaptation in South Devon

Finding pathways to action for citizens and policymakers

As the climate changes, how can communities join together in adapting and becoming more resilient? Alongside crucial efforts to mitigate climate change, now is the time to consider how all of us can actively work towards local climate adaptation. This is in the practical work of flood preparation, food growing or nature restoration, but also in coming together as citizens to learn, think and plan within a joined-up South Devon adaptation strategy.

Discuss, Rethink, Connect Let’s get ready, together

We often speak about climate change as if it is the end of the story. In fact, the challenge of adapting to a changing physical world opens us up to a future that we have the ability to plan for today. By understanding the likely outcomes, we can take thoughtful action now.

  • When you think about your community in a future under climate change, what do you see and how do you feel?
  • What hopes do you have for your community when you envision its future?
  • Thinking about the most likely local impacts of climate change in terms of flooding, drought, transport disruption, access to social and health care, food etc. what specific climate adaptation needs are you aware of in your place?
  • What are the tangible steps you and your community could take to prepare for these needs now? Think about both how you might handle a concern once it has arisen (e.g. getting children to school through flood water), and how you might seek to alleviate it in advance (e.g. developing a natural flood management project)

Is there a knotty systemic issue you would like help addressing? Like an issue that no one agency is taking responsibility for? Do you need funding for a specific project?

BLC has committed the next 18 months to working on the adaptation agenda with South Hams District Council, Sustainable South Hams, and with communities. Some of our suggested pathways to action for citizens are:

  • Setting up a community and council stakeholder forum to help develop a Climate Adaptation Strategy for South Devon
  • Sharing knowledge, data, expertise and resources in an online network
  • Investing in local action: hiring lengthsmen or building volunteer teams to tackle adaptation priorities, like managing flood risk or mending potholes
  • Supporting the creation of revenue-generating projects, such as community energy societies, that can then use the revenue for adaptation within the community
  • Businesses encouraged to explore the possibilities for regenerative and eco-friendly tourism that does not deplete our resources
  • Farmers building stronger relationships with their local communities and selling directly to them.

Adaptation requires us to think in ‘wholes’ – whole rivers, whole landscapes, whole systems. BLC’s primary recommendation is the development of a robust joined-up local adaptation strategy & adaptation network across South Devon that leads to action. To inform this work, BLC led a Learning Journey for Climate Adaptation from 3rd-7th June 2024. During that week we gathered evidence of how farming, communities, town councils and others are already adapting, and what is needed to grow future resilience. Our hosts demonstrated the kinds of changes that are possible–in regenerative farming, renewable energy, community collaboration, health and social care, biodiversity, flood prevention and response, food availability, and innovation. Among other places, we visited Porsham Farm, the Apricot Centre, the Dartmoor Headwaters Project, Flete Field Lab, the Avon Valley Project, Kingsbridge Climate Action and Riverford.

What You Can Do Put it in Motion

Watch the film we have made (if you haven’t already).

  • Host a gathering! Bring the film and questions to your living room with friends, or to a venue in your community for an organised event
  • Ask your local councillor to arrange a gathering in your town or village so that you can discuss particular scenarios that are relevant to your neighbourhoods, fields, rivers and roads. We can provide a high resolution version of the film, supporting worksheets and a limited number of in-person workshops or networking events.

This is your opportunity to be part of the story of how South Devon will move forward under the likely outcomes of climate change. We currently have a window of opportunity to consider this–while organisations, communities, projects and local government bodies are already taking steps towards this, we are not yet adequately prepared for the future. While mitigation is more about projects, adaptation is more about collaborating.

 

This BLC project is funded by South Hams District Council and in collaboration with Sustainable South Hams.

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