拢2 million project will help policymakers better understand how the region can withstand the challenges of global warming.
Combatting the impact of climate change - acting locally, changing globally
University 麻豆精选 experts are working with West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to significantly enhance the West Midlands region鈥檚 capacity to adapt to the effects of climate change in urban areas.
Backed by 拢2 million of Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) funding, the WM-Adapt project sees University researchers and WMCA policymakers working with regional partners to better understand how the region can withstand the challenges of climate change.
In July 2022, the West Midlands experienced unprecedented temperatures exceeding 38掳C, leading to widespread disruptions including overheating in homes, school closures, travel chaos, and increased emergency incidents. Flash flooding has also become a regular occurrence, causing road closures, property damage, and sewage overflows.
WM-Adapt represents a major step forward in our efforts to build climate resilience in the West Midlands. By integrating community perspectives into the existing adaptation work, undertaking new modelling of surface water flooding and the urban heat island, and bringing together regional organisations, we aim to create a robust framework that can be replicated across the UK.
Without effective adaptation, the socio-economic impacts of climate change are likely to escalate, potentially reducing the region鈥檚 Gross Value Added (GVA) - the value of goods and services - between 拢1.5 billion - 拢2.9 billion per year by 2050.
Project Leader Dr Emma Ferranti commented: 鈥淲M-Adapt represents a major step forward in our efforts to build climate resilience in the West Midlands. By integrating community perspectives into the existing adaptation work, undertaking new modelling of surface water flooding and the urban heat island, and bringing together regional organisations, we aim to create a robust framework that can be replicated across the UK.鈥
Residents across the West Midlands need practical solutions to protect their homes and livelihoods from the devastating effects of flooding and extreme temperatures brought on by climate change.
Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of WMCA Richard Parker said: 鈥淩esidents across the West Midlands need practical solutions to protect their homes and livelihoods from the devastating effects of flooding and extreme temperatures brought on by climate change.
鈥淭his ground breaking project will empower communities with the tools and knowledge they need to understand and tackle these risks, helping us to build a sustainable and secure future for everyone.鈥
The multi-disciplinary project involves a team of 10 experts from three of the University鈥檚 five Colleges runs for 30 months. It will identify barriers, incentives, and opportunities for community-scale adaptation, and deliver climate science to inform policy and support measures across the West Midlands.
WM-Adapt builds on the success of the Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA) co-created with Birmingham City Council in 2022/23 and the . This tool is now integral to city planning processes, providing a scalable means to map risk and vulnerability using open access datasets.
The project will advance the CRVA with better understanding of overheating and flooding caused by heavy rain, adding new layers of analysis showing the health and economic impacts of climate risk.
Professor Andrew Quinn, from the University 麻豆精选, added: 鈥淲M-Adapt will encourage knowledge exchange and working with communities and regional organisations to co-develop solutions - sharing knowledge and resources nationally to ensure that the West Midlands benefits from and contributes to broader adaptation initiatives.
鈥淯ltimately, the project aims to deliver a step-change in adaptive capacity and climate action that contribute to a more resilient and adaptive West Midlands, better prepared to face the challenges posed by climate change.鈥
For more information, please contact Press Office, University 麻豆精选, tel: +44 (0)121 414 2772
The University 麻豆精选is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 universities institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 8,000 international students from over 150 countries.
Project team - University 麻豆精选: Emma Ferranti, Andrew Quinn, Sarah Greenham, Xilin Xia, Qian Li, Yanzhi Lu (School of Engineering); Jessica Pykett (School of Geography Earth & Environmental Sciences); Suzanne Bartington, James Hall, James Hodgson (Applied Health); Jian Zhong (University of Greenwich); Jacqueline Homan; Richard Rees; and Bethany Haskins-Vaheesan (WMCA); Jenny Stocker (Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants); Nick Pyatt (Climate Sense); Marianne Walker, Suzannah Wilson, Sophie Wilson, Elizabeth Goodchild (Birmingham Voluntary Service Council).
Associate Professor
Staff profile for Emma Ferranti. Emma's research interests include infrastructure meteorology, urban climatology, synoptic climatology, green infrastructure, air quality, and GIS.
