Summary
The West Midlands is expected to experience hotter, drier summers and warmer, wetter winters as a result of climate change.
How extreme the effects of the resulting impacts will be, including extreme heatwaves, flooding and storms, depends on our success with meeting or exceeding global carbon reduction targets and the rapidity and effectiveness of our adaptations. Both approaches to tackling climate change are increasingly important and could work effectively in tandem.
This analysis begins to paint a picture of what we can expect in the WMCA area, and what this means for society, infrastructure and environment. A summary of the vulnerability hotspots, the areas at high or very high risk of climate change impacts, are as follows:
|
People |
The confluence between Sandwell, Wolverhampton and Walsall and Central Birmingham |
| Infrastructure |
Central Walsall to South Dudley, North to South Birmingham and North to South Solihull. |
| Natural Environment |
he interface between Dudley, Sandwell, Wolverhampton and Walsall, the M6 corridor in East Birmingham, the River Blythe catchment in Solihull and Northeast Coventry. |
However, the response to climate change must be consistent across the region to ensure adaptation measures not only prevent the impacts from causing significant disruption, but also to ensure responses factor in the diverse needs of the people across the West Midlands.
The WMCA and organisations across the region are now working together to develop a programme of adaptation activity to ensure we are more resilient to the expected climate impacts, as well as contributing to the wider levelling up agenda of the region through the multiple benefits adaptation can bring.
The West Midlands Climate Change Adaptation Plan, published in November 2021 provides more information on this activity.