Joint statement from North Wales Public Services Boards (PSBs), local authorities and regional partners
A new assessment of climate change risks across North Wales highlights both the scale of the challenges ahead and the significant work already underway to help communities, services, infrastructure, businesses and our natural environment prepare for a changing climate.
The North Wales Regional Climate Change Risk Assessment brings together evidence from all six counties – Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham. With further input from other regional bodies, it provides a shared evidence base to help public bodies and partners understand where risks are greatest and where further action, investment and collaboration can make the biggest difference.
The assessment reviewed 62 climate risks, with 17 categorised as “Act Now”, 32 as “Plan Now” and six as “Watch / Low”. Among the highest-priority risks are the impacts of extreme weather on health and social care, flooding of homes and communities, disruption to transport and other critical infrastructure, risks to coastal communities, and disruption to businesses and supply chains.
But the assessment also demonstrates that North Wales is not starting from scratch.
Across the region, public bodies and partners are already taking practical steps to manage climate risks and strengthen resilience.
Examples include coastal adaptation and flood alleviation schemes; improving coordination of multi-agency responses to severe weather; work to prepare for wildfire; investment in resilient transport infrastructure; and initiatives to protect people who may be particularly vulnerable during extreme weather.
The assessment highlights the value of this collaborative approach. Experience from major flooding and storms has strengthened cross-county emergency response and mutual aid, while coastal adaptation projects and nature-based flood alleviation demonstrate how investment in infrastructure and the natural environment can reduce risk. The in-house, collaborative approach taken to produce the risk assessment also saved an estimated £200,000 compared with quoted fees from consultants.
Nina Ruddle, chair of Flintshire & Wrexham PSB, said: “The assessment is not simply about identifying problems – it is about helping us decide what we can do next. It is a strong example of collaboration across North Wales, with the North Wales Insight Partnership supporting our Public Services Boards to put the five ways of working into practice.
“We need to use this evidence to make informed choices about investment and priorities, to strengthen our services and infrastructure, and to work with communities, businesses and partners to prepare for the changes ahead. Early action can help reduce future disruption and costs, while also bringing wider benefits for health, communities, the economy and our environment.”
Wrexham Council’s Deputy Leader, Councillor David A Bithell, said: “The world is facing huge climate challenges, and it’s crucial that partners across North Wales have a clear understanding about what those challenges mean for the region.
“It’s important that we share information and learning to help support each other, and this piece of work has been a really good example of collaboration.
“Climate change is something that will affect every single one of us, and the better informed we are, the better placed we are to prepare, respond and shape a more resilient future for Wrexham and North Wales.”
Professor Andrew Edwards, chair of Gwynedd & Anglesey PSB, said: “This assessment gives us a much clearer shared picture of the climate risks facing North Wales and, importantly, where those risks are already being experienced by our communities.
“It also demonstrates that there is already considerable knowledge, experience and good practice across the region. The challenge now is to build on that foundation, learn from one another and make sure that climate risk is considered in the decisions we take today about our services, communities, infrastructure and natural environment.”
A spokesperson for Conwy & Denbighshire PSB said: “Climate change does not stop at county boundaries, and neither should our response. The work behind this assessment has brought organisations together to share evidence, experience and practical examples of what is working.
“We have seen the benefits of that approach through coordinated responses to flooding and severe weather, coastal adaptation and projects that work with nature to reduce risk. The report clearly highlights how important it is for councils and partners to invest now to save lives and high costs from late or no action. There is a real opportunity now to strengthen the resilience of the region as a whole.”
Climate change will not affect everyone equally. The assessment highlights how factors such as age, health, disability, poor housing, low income and social isolation can increase vulnerability to climate impacts. Strengthening climate resilience can therefore also contribute to tackling health inequalities, reducing vulnerability and supporting the well-being of communities.
The assessment also emphasises that a healthy natural environment is an important part of climate resilience. Peatlands, woodlands, rivers, dunes, saltmarshes and other habitats can help manage water, reduce heat, support biodiversity and protect communities from climate impacts. Protecting and restoring these natural systems can therefore provide benefits for both people and nature.
The assessment has been developed through collaboration between the three North Wales Public Services Boards, the six local authorities and regional partners, with input from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Natural Resources Wales, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, North Wales Police, Eryri National Park Authority, representatives of the regions National Landscapes, Ambition North Wales, Dŵr Cymru and the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency. The lead writer was Dr. Rebecca Colley Jones of Ynys Resources who worked alongside two researchers from Bangor University – Dani Crowley and Marina De Llobet Payas.
Findings from the risk assessments will inform Well-being Assessments and the 2027–2032 Well-being Plans, which Councils and Public Services Boards will be consulting on over the next year.
They will also inform corporate risk management, investment, asset management, emergency and business continuity planning. Public bodies and partners will also look at how successful approaches can be shared and where joint action is needed.
The message from the assessment is clear: North Wales already has strong foundations for climate resilience, but the changing climate means that this work needs to continue, develop and become increasingly joined-up.
