Adapting to a changing climate

The average surface temperature in the UK has already risen by 1.2 Celsius since pre-industrial times and efforts are underway to limit global average warming to below 1.5 Celsius. Even if this target is achieved, Oxfordshire can still expect to experience significant changes to its climate.

The Met Office climate projections show an increased likelihood of:

• warmer, wetter winters
• hotter, drier summers
• increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather.

As the lead local flood authority and with responsibility for a wide range of emergency planning functions, Oxfordshire County Council is actively working with partners across Oxfordshire to identify areas of vulnerability to a changing climate and take steps to enable Oxfordshire to be more climate resilient.

Support

There are a wide range of resources available to support residents and businesses in Oxfordshire to identify areas of vulnerability as a result of a changing climate and steps to take to build resilience.

• Am I at risk? See if your community is at risk from different types of flooding.
• Check your postcode: Is your area vulnerable to extreme heat?
• Developed through the UK Climate Resilience Programme, funded by UKRI and the Met Office, the climate risk indicators website provides information on future changes to indicators of climate risk across the UK.
• The UK Climate Impact Programme has developed an Adaptation Wizard. This is a 5-step process to help your organisation adapt to climate change. It’s also a guide to useful information, tools and resources.
• Our Tree Policy for Oxfordshire recognises trees as a critical component of the climate change adaptation infrastructure.