Newsletters

February 2025 newsletter

Posted on 24/02/25 by Yisum Heneghan

📢 Announcements 

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Updates to Environment Agency’s flood risk maps 

The Environment Agency is transforming its understanding of flood and coastal erosion risk in England. Over the past four years, they’ve been working with local authorities to develop a new National Flood Risk Assessment (NaFRA) and a new National Coastal Erosion Risk Map (NCERM). Both use the best available data, information and modelling from the Environment Agency and local authorities to provide the most detailed and accurate understanding yet of current and future risks. On 28th Jan 2025, they have made the new data – which shows the risk of flooding from rivers, the sea and surface water. Check your long term flood risk for an area in England, and sign-up to flood warnings where available.   

 

🗒️ Reports and studies released 

Estimating future heat-related and cold-related mortality under climate change, demographic and adaptation scenarios in 854 European cities – 27th January 

This study in Nature Medicine found that there could be an extra 2.3 million deaths from extreme temperatures in Europe’s main cities by 2099, in a scenario with little action to curb climate change and adapt to its effects. 

Analysis: UK would need forest ‘twice size of London’ to offset new airport expansion – 27th January 

Carbon Brief has found that a forest twice the size of Greater London would need to be planted to offset the additional CO2 emissions from the planned expansion of Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton airports announced by UK chancellor Rachel Reeves this week. Reeves confirmed the government’s support for a third runway at Heathrow airport in order to “unlock further growth” in a speech on Wednesday. Earlier in the week, UK energy security and net-zero secretary Ed Miliband said that any expansion “must be justified within carbon budgets and, if it can’t be justified, it won’t go ahead”. The analysis was twice cited in parliament by MPs and covered by a range of media outlets. 

NHS Green Plan Guidance – update 

In 2020, the NHS became the world’s first health system to commit to reaching net zero emissions. The Delivering a Net Zero National Health Service report set out the scale of ambition. The Health and Care Act 2022 reinforced this commitment, placing new duties on integrated care boards (ICBs), NHS trusts and foundation trusts (referred to collectively in this guidance as trusts) to consider statutory emissions and environmental targets in their decisions. These plans now need to be refreshed in line with this statutory guidance by 31 July 2025. Its key actions on adaptation and resilience can be found here.  

 

📰 News 

Can DIY greening solutions transform your street and combat climate change? – University of Surrey press release, 21st January 

Met Office: A review of the UK’s climate in 2024 – CarbonBrief, 28th Janaury 

UK confirms 2035 emission targets in updated NDC submission – edie, 30th January 

Land use plan for England to map best areas for farming and nature – The Guardian, 31st January 

Could the UK actually get colder with global warming? – BBC News, 1st February  

UK unprepared for climate change impacts – fire chiefs council – BBC News, 3rd February  

Eco-anxiety rife among children as 78% found to be worried about climate change – The Standard, 3rd February 

 

📅 Events 

UDL: Sustainable Drainage for Housing and Streets – Weds, 26th February, 10:00 – 12:30 

This session will provide an introduction to the 4 pillars of sustainable drainage: water quality, water quantity, amenity and biodiversity and discuss key principles and approaches to the design of sustainable drainage for housing and streets. Book here. 

UCL Grand Challenges at Love Your Planet, Mon 17th Feb 2025, 09:30 – 18:00 at UCL Institute of Education  

A collaboration between the UCL Grand Challenges of Climate Crisis, The Climate Reality Project, and Climate Cafe, the day will focus on what businesses, policymakers, academics, and activists can do in the UK to accelerate the green transition. 
Book your free ticket and join us to be part of the solution! Together, let’s transform awareness into action and make a tangible impact on our planet. 

Heatwave Preparedness: Response and Recovery in action in Hackney – Tues, 4th March, 14:00 – 16:45 at Hackney CVS, E8 3AZ

Join Volunteer Centre Hackney for this scenario-based workshop for community and voluntary organisations interested in the challenges posed to Hackney’s community by climate change and extreme weather.

UKGBC at Futurebuild 2025 – How resilient is the UK built environment to climate impacts? Panel – Weds, 5th March 13:30 – 14:15 at ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL 

The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) is partnering with Futurebuild 2025 to host a panel discussion focusing on climate resilience in the built environment. This session is focused around the UKGBC Climate Resilience Roadmap, with a sneak peek at the roadmap content looking at how resilient and vulnerable the UK built environment is to climate impacts, including results of the Roadmap research as well as key insights. 

Al stakeholders of the built environment are invited to come, hear the updates and bring your perspectives and questions to the panel. Further details and registration can be found on the UKGBC website, or Futurebuild’s, for registering. 

Climate Adaptation for the Construction and Built Environment Sector, Scotland – Thurs, 6th March, 13:30 – 16:30 

Organized by Sniffer, in collaboration with the UKGBC, Supply Chain School, BE-ST, and Balfour Beatty, among other organisations leading organisations in this remit, this in person event will focus on climate adaptation strategies specific to the construction and built environment sector. The workshop is aimed for the Construction and Built Environment sector to identify key climate risks and collaboratively develop sector-specific guidance on adaptation and resilience. Additionally, a select number of SMEs will be supported in creating case studies showcasing practical adaptation measures, which will complement the guidance. 

Connected Places Summit, 19th-20th March 2025 at Sancroft Convene, London & Virtually 

Connected Places Summit showcases real innovation that is helping to drive jobs and growth in local and regional economies. Join to: 

• Hear real-life case studies 

• Network with your peers from across multiple ecosystems 

• Meet the latest technology partners showcasing their latest products and solutions 

Water and Climate Change: 10 Things You Should Know – Thurs, 27th March, 7pm at Conway Hall, London (Price: £10 Standard, £7 for concessions) 

Agile Rabbit is delivering the community engagement for the DEFRA-funded flood-resilience project Blue Heart in East Sussex. It will be a panel of four, chaired by former BBC presenter Ritula Shah. Speakers are Caroline Douglas, Jan Selby, Dr. Phiala Mehring, and James Wallace.