Who leads on adaptation?

Nationally

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) leads on adaptation in England, through their coordination of the cross-Government Adapting to Climate Change programme. The programme brings together the work already being led by Government and the wider public sector on adapting to climate change. It also co-ordinates and drives forward the development of the Government's work on adaptation in the future. Two major pieces of work underway at the moment are the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment and the Adaptation Economic Analysis, the findings of which are due to be laid before Parliament in January 2012. Following on from this, the National Adaptation Programme will be developed.

Much of this work is required under the Climate Change Act (2008), which made the UK the first country in the world to have a legally binding long-term framework to cut carbon emissions. The Act also creates a framework for building the UK's ability to adapt to climate change.

The Committee on Climate Change was established under the Climate Change Act, to advise the UK Government on setting and meeting carbon budgets and on preparing for the impacts of climate change. The Adaptation Sub-Committee (ASC) provides independent advice to government on the actions it should be taking to prepare for climate change. The ASC provides regular progress reports to Parliament.

Defra agencies play a major role in supporting adaptation both nationally and at a more local level.

• The Environment Agency (EA) is the Government's lead delivery body on climate change adaptation, from October 2011. The EA's Adapting to Climate Change programme will complement their existing roles and responsibilities and is being developed closely with the cross-Government Adapting to Climate Change programme, mentioned at the top of this page. The EA's programme consists of a web-based information service giving access to the latest climate science, tools and advice to help plan for climate change; and tailored support to help key sectors build their resilience to climate change. The programme will focus on six key themes: business and economy, infrastructure, built environment, health and well-being, natural environment and local government. You can take part in the EA's survey to help shape the new programme.
   
• Natural England's role in climate change adaptation is focused in three key areas: ensuring that adaptation is sustainable and recognises the importance of healthy and resilient ecosystems; delivering conservation on the ground that will ensure the natural environment is resilient to climate change; and working with the research community to develop the knowledge and responses required. Natural England's Character Area Climate Change Project aims to identify local responses required to safeguard our natural environment and our enjoyment of it.
   

Sub-nationally

Operating between the national and local levels, Climate East Midlands and the other Climate Change Partnerships coordinate local action on climate change, to deliver government policy and respond to local needs. Climate UK is the national network of Climate Change Partnerships from the English Areas, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The Climate UK website provides a useful portal to all the Climate Change Partnerships' websites.

Locally

At the local level, Local Authorities have been expected to take the lead on adaptation in their areas, engaging their partners and leading by example, an approach which began under the now-abolished National Indicator 188: Planning to Adapt to Climate Change. In the East Midlands, the upper-tier and unitary Local Authorities have been working together on adaptation since 2008. They are all signed up to the Nottingham Declaration, and as signatories they have pledged to systematically address the causes of climate change and to prepare their community for its impacts. 90% of English councils have signed the Nottingham Declaration.