Act to Adapt

Somerset is experiencing increased risks from sea level rise and more unpredictable weather patterns that lead to flooding, drought and wildfires. After extreme events like floods or heatwaves, very often the focus is on resilience; being able to bounce back after the damage is done. While learning from these events and building resilience is important, as the climate continues to change these events are happening more often and are becoming more extreme and unpredictable as well as inevitable.

The climate will continue to shift for a long time to come, and we need to find a way to live with these changes. Taking adaptation actions can help limit or avoid the negative effects of climate change, and even maximise any positive opportunities it may present. 

Somerset Wildlife Trust’s Act to Adapt process is supporting communities across Somerset to adapt to climate change through a series of collaborative events. Taking the following steps, communities are creating and implementing climate adaptation plans, proactively responding to climate threats in their local area whilst simultaneously building community, supporting local wildlife, and increasing wellbeing. 

Find out how each of these communities are taking steps to combat climate change in their areas. 

These communities have been through the process and are now in action! An important feature of these plans is that they are never finalised, meaning that communities can update and alter the plan according to their changing priorities and current climate issues in the coming months and years.