What Is Adaptation and Why Is It Important To The Climate Emergency?
In April we focus on our Climate Emergency Response Plan’s theme of Adaptation, meaning this month we dive into how climate change is impacting our earth and how we can adapt and, in some instances, mitigate these impacts, which include storms, wildfires, floodings, and other disasters. Not to forget the physical impacts it has on us such as health and respiratory issues, mental health and climate anxiety, which we went into detail about in our last article.
Adapting and building resilience to extreme weather is becoming more important than ever as we face growing climate extremities globally, and locally. This year, we have already faced more intense windstorms, increased risk of wildfires, and fluctuating temperatures, and as we enter the warmer season we need to prepare for what is to come.
Key Challenges
Climate change brings new threats across the globe and strengthens existing ones. The season for heatwaves, droughts, wildfires and more are starting earlier and becoming longer. Already in April we already have experienced several wildfires across the United Kingdom such as Dorset, Glasgow, Stirling, Cornwall and in Ireland and Wales. The heat is especially hitting already hot countries too, as an example India is already preparing for extreme heat. On top of this storms are becoming stronger and more frequent as we saw with storm Éowyn as it caused significant damage to properties, powerlines and unfortunately claimed one life. How we prepare for such events is critical to ensure we can be as resilient as possible.
But weather is not the only threat we face due to climate change. WHO (World Health Organisation) have also claimed that greenhouse gases and climate change can increase the risk of health risks such as respiratory problems, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer. For example:
Rising Temperatures cause severe weather and air pollution, which can result in injuries, fatalities, mental health impacts, asthma, and cardiovascular disease
Extreme weather cause changes in ecology, increasing allergens, which could increase malaria, dengue, encephalitis cases, and respiratory allergies and asthma
Sea Level Rises cause issues with water quality and our water and food supplies. This can lead to more cases of cholera, algal blooms, cryptosporidiosis, malnutrition, and diarrheal diseases
Increasing CO2 levels cause environmental damage and more frequent extreme heat, this can lead to forced migration, civil conflict, mental health impacts, and increased cases of illness, death, and cardiovascular disease.
This just shows the importance of the issue and how it is growing, but it is important to remember that there are actions and precautions we can take to mitigate and adapt to the circumstances. Our everyday choices create greenhouse gasses and are heating up the earth, however, if we work together, we also are the solution to mitigate the impacts we face.
Examples of adaptation
Adaptation is the efforts we are taking to reduce the impact that climate-change related events cause, It involves recognising the risks posed by climate change and implementing strategies to mitigate those risks. For example, flood protection, and education for heatwaves, are efforts that will reduce damage and tragedies during those events. It is important that we adapt and develop measures to protect environment to, ourselves and our world. This includes actions as:
- Infrastructure improvements: Upgrading buildings, roads, and other infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events such as floods, storms, and heatwaves.
- Ecosystem management: Protecting and restoring the natural environment such as woodland, wetlands, and coral reefs, which provide vital services such as flood protection, water filtration, and habitat for wildlife.
- Healthcare and public health: Strengthening healthcare systems and developing plans to address the health impacts of climate change, including heat-related illnesses, infectious diseases, and food insecurity.
- Early warning systems: Establishing systems to monitor climate-related hazards and provide warnings to vulnerable communities, allowing them to take proactive measures to protect lives and property.
What are we doing?
We play a big role in addressing climate change and helping build resilience for the county. Projects such as the Morrison Busty depot project are part of the steps towards energy resilience. The County Durham Strategic Flood Risk Assessment, Water Cycle Study, and Local Flood Risk Management Strategy, help make informed decisions in flood related disasters and manage flooding effectively.
Some key achievements we have include:
- Over 45 community resilience plans are now in progress, with three plans fully complete. In addition, we have worked with Durham Community Action to equip 27 community buildings with emergency kits and supplies.
- Some of our local community groups have been successful in gaining funding to make their community buildings more resilient, with much of the funding coming from Northern PowerGrid.
- The Public Health team have adopted a Climate Change and Health Action Plan that includes 32 individual tasks that focus across a range of actions. If you are interested in what this includes you can read this in the CERP3 on page 74.
What you can do
Reduce your carbon footprint
One of the most impactful steps you can take is to reduce your carbon emissions. This means making choices that minimize your contribution to greenhouse gases. For example:
- Become more energy efficient: from choosing appliances more wisely to switching off your lights when not in use, there are many small and meaningful steps you can take to become more energy efficient and reduce emissions.
- Reduce your usage of fossil fuels: to reduce your reliance and usage of fossil fuels, you can try walking or cycling instead of taking your car, or explore more sustainable energy suppliers. If you can and want to take it one step further, you could consider an electric vehicle, or solar panels or a heat pump on your home.
- Make small changes: we make little choices throughout our day that can add to your personal emissions, for example what food you eat, how you dry your clothes, what temperature you heating is set to, and more. Little actions add up to big impacts.
Encouraging others to adopt these practices is equally important. By spreading awareness and inspiring action within your community, you multiply the positive impact.
Prepare for climate related risks
To stay safe during extreme weather events, consider these precautions
- Be prepared for storms and emergencies: Climate change is bringing stronger and less predictable weather and it’s a good idea to stay prepared. You can keep a supply of tinned goods, long life items such as milk, and bottled water so you don’t need to leave your home during a storm. Have power banks and torches in case of any power cuts, and if you can, consider renewable energy options such as solar panels which reduce your homes reliance on the grid.
- Do not forget your sun cream: As the temperatures rise, so does the risk of heatwaves increase. To stay protected, stock up on sun cream, drink plenty of water and stay hydrated, stay in the shade or indoors during the hottest hours of the day. Also dress for the heat and if you are active outside make sure to take regular breaks.
Being prepared is not just about physical supplies. It is also important to keep informed and up to date on weather alerts, potential risks specific to your area, and the help and support available under such circumstances.
Prioritise your health
Your physical and mental health are very important. Climate related events can exacerbate existing health conditions, so it is crucial that you:
- Manage stress and mental health: there is a lot of misinformation and negativity out there, which can make people feel anxious and overwhelmed. It is important to manage your mental health to make sure it does not take over. If you would like some more information around this, you can read our last article which we covered this subject.
- Monitor Air Quality: Air quality is one of the main reasons for decline in respiratory health, including conditions like asthma. Keep an eye on local air quality reports and limit outdoor activities on days with poor air quality. You also could use an air purifier indoors to reduce exposure to pollutants.
- Keep healthy: If you can, take time to exercise keep and stay active keeping your body strong and resilient. On hot days, make sure to drink plenty of water, dress for the weather, use sunscreen, and stay indoors or in shaded areas during the hottest times.. You also look at your diet and try swapping in meals that are both healthier for you and better for the environment. Check out our article “Healthy People, Healthy Planet” to learn more about sustainable food choices.
Stay educated and informed
Understanding the risks, solutions, and support mechanisms associated to weather extremities is crucial. By staying informed you empower yourself to make safe choices and share knowledge with others. For example, we previously published an article about climate adaptation strategies which might provide further insights
You can also support broader by advocating for policies that protect the environment, volunteering for or supporting organisations that work on environmental regeneration, and even promoting environment friendly practices within your community.
By taking these or even some of these steps, you are not protecting just yourself and your families, you are also contributing towards the collective efforts addressing one of the most critical challenges of our time.
We would love to hear from you.
Share your stories, experiences, and photos of nature, and send us a few lines on how you are helping protect our environment in County Durham. Whether it is something you do personally, a community project you may be involved in, a business change or action, or even a great photo of nature. We want to celebrate and share your efforts and views.
Send us your stories or photos (with a short explanation) by emailing climatecountydurham@durham.gov.uk or by filling in our “Get in Touch form” and help inspire others across our beautiful county to take action. And don’t forget to sign up to our Climate Change and Carbon Reduction Pledge.
