Introduction
HWDI: How We Did It
Transforming Your Council to Identify Climate Risk and Embed Climate Resilience
Many councils had committed to net zero, but embedding climate resilience into whole-organisation transformation remained a major challenge. This session explored how local authorities successfully integrated climate risk into their strategic planning and addressed the significant impacts on future service delivery.
Emma Bull, Assistant Director – Climate at Local Partnerships, and Emily Bolton, Climate Crisis Strategy Manager at Cambridgeshire County Council, shared their experience implementing Local Partnerships’ Climate Adaptation Toolkit. They reflected on the key steps taken, challenges encountered, and best practices that emerged while embedding climate resilience across council operations.
The session focused on essential considerations for whole-council transformation to ensure services were future-ready. Attendees gained practical insights and takeaways that supported their own work, with the following key questions addressed:
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How did they begin to consider climate within large-scale transformation projects?
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What collaborations proved crucial to their success?
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What were the impacts for the council and local communities?
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How were colleagues engaged throughout the process?
Watch the replay to learn how climate resilience was embedded in practice.
Explore related materials
Discover guides, toolkits and case studies that build on this topic
The Local Energy Supply Guides from Ynni Cymru are available in English and Welsh and provide practical, accessible information to help organisations explore local energy supply opportunities and make better use of locally generated renewable energy. The guidance covers the key regulatory, commercial and technical considerations involved in developing local energy supply projects, helping organisations understand the options available and assess potential approaches.
The guides cover Behind-the-Meter Energy Systems, Private Wire Energy Systems and Licence Exempt Electricity Supply. They explain how each model works, the opportunities it may offer, and the factors organisations should consider before progressing a project. The guidance is designed for local authorities, public sector organisations, SMEs, voluntary and charitable organisations, community energy organisations, renewable energy developers and others interested in retaining more value from renewable energy within local communities.
With recent heatwaves, wildfires, and droughts highlighting the growing impacts of climate change, it’s more important than ever for councils to understand and prepare for climate risks. Explore our two newly updated climate adaptation resources, both revised and refreshed to reflect the CCC’s Fourth Independent Assessment of UK Climate Risk (CCRA4-IA).
The UK Government has committed to reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2050, and 70% of local authorities in the UK have declared a climate emergency. Net zero cannot be achieved without adaptation.
Adaptation (in climate change context) is otherwise known as resilience or preparedness. Resilience is the ambition, adaptation is the method.
We need to adapt to the challenges that arise from the significant climate impacts we are facing in the UK, and take advantage of the opportunities.
Risk and Opportunities Matrix
Following user feedback we have updated the previously named risk register generator.
UPDATED – 29 July 2026 – Greenhouse Gas Accounting Tool
The Greenhouse Gas Accounting Tool has been developed by Local Partnerships in collaboration with the Local Government Association (LGA) to provide councils with a straightforward and consistent approach for calculating their carbon baseline and annual emissions reporting.
For assistance and feedback, please email ghgaccounting@localpartnerships.gov.uk
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