City of Nature plan and climate adaptation

Alongside reducing emissions to prevent climate change, the council is also committed to preparing Birmingham for the effects of climate change to make sure our city and residents are resilient to future risks.

As a result, Birmingham has become the first UK local authority to develop a measurement tool for Environmental Justice. This tool has been used to create the Environmental Justice map which identifies the areas in the city where the effects of climate change are being felt most acutely. By compiling data on green spaces, flood risk, vulnerability to overheating, existing health inequalities, and indices of multiple deprivation, the map provides a baseline to develop an evidence-based approach to climate adaptation. Therefore, we can make sure that we reduce flood and overheating risks for the areas of the city which are most vulnerable and least resilient.

The City of Nature Plan is the 25-year strategy which puts this approach into practice. The plan will deliver improvements by making physical changes to parks and green spaces, which will improve biodiversity, reduce flood and overheating risks, whilst also working with local groups to develop community ownership of local assets.

During the first year of the plan, a pilot project will be delivered in Bordesley and Highgate, before work is scaled up to another 5 wards in the 5 years following. By targeting these areas, the City of Nature Plan will reduce the risks of climate change for the most vulnerable and work towards building a more resilient and greener city.

Page last updated: 11 November 2022