A partnership between the European Centre for Environment and Human Health and Cornwall Council, supported by a wide range of local stakeholders is developing a tool to support local decision makers to plan and adapt to climate change.
The Local Climate Adaptation Tool (LCAT) brings complex climate models, adaptation options and health impact evidence to help the user understand the health implications of climate change in their local area. Importantly, LCAT also generates recommendations of appropriate adaptation approaches, based on the best available evidence that will support the health and wellbeing of local people. LCAT is being developed for use by local authorities and public bodies.
LCAT allows the user to select a local area of interest (starting with areas across Cornwall as a case study), and see the predicted climate for this area over the coming decades. It combines these predictions with evidence on the health impacts of climate change from the scientific literature to support local organisations to plan their adaptation strategies, and enable the best possible health and well-being outcomes for local people. For example, planning cycle paths with shade for hotter summer months and protection from stronger cross winds in the winter, ensuring people can continue to gain the health and wellbeing benefits of cycling in a changing climate.
https://www.ecehh.org/research/local-climate-adaptation-tool/
European Centre for Environment and Human Health University of Exeter Medical School, Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3HD
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Then Try This We've been working with the European Centre for Environment and Human Health at the University of Exeter, Cornwall Council, the NHS and emergency services to design and build a prototype tool to show climate change forecasts together with the health and well-being impacts. You can try it here.
The system allows people to select a geographical area of interest (starting with Cornwall as a case study), and uses climate models to show what to expect over the coming decades. We combine these predictions with evidence on the health impacts of climate change from the scientific literature to support local organisations to plan their adaptation strategies, and enable the best possible health and well-being outcomes for local people. For example, planning cycle paths with shade for hotter summer months and protection from stronger cross winds in the winter, ensuring people can continue to gain the health and wellbeing benefits of cycling in a changing climate.
The tool is free and open source as always, and is aimed at helping councils, the NHS and emergency services understand what is likely to happen and prioritise their climate adaptation approaches.
The prototype tool is being exhibited at the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP26 (Glasgow, November 2021, Green Zone, 4 November) and has been shortlisted for the Climate Challenge Cup (10 November).
https://thentrythis.org/projects/climate-and-health-tool/
Local Climate Adaptation Tool (beta)
This prototype tool allows you to see climate change forecasts for local areas, the expected impacts on health and wellbeing, and suggested adaptation priorities. All information presented is based on scientific research, and links to relevant publications are available. Prototype provides information for Cornwall, Torridge and Plymouth.
The prototype Climate and Health Tool has been developed by the University of Exeter’s European Centre for Human Health, Cornwall Council, and Then Try This, with co-design partners from the NHS, voluntary sector and emergency services. Funding support has been provided by the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, delivered by Local Government Association, University College London and the University of Exeter Strategic Priorities Fund.
