Preparing Reading for the impacts of climate change
The Reading Climate Change Partnership commissioned a first adaptation plan for Reading in February 20207. This is not a detailed action plan, rather, it indicates headline climate impacts for Reading by the end of the century, describing the big picture risks alongside the opportunities for the town to adapt. It sets out key steps for consideration in each category of adaptation and recommends a number of areas of work to advance the development of Reading’s Adaptation Plan.
It is a good introduction to adaptation planning, with very much a Reading focus. Headline climate change impacts for each of the six themes set out in the strategy have been considered in development of the strategy. These include ‘low regret’ and ‘win-win’ options. There is more for us to pick up on and lots of reference information: including links to other Adaptation Planning documents. There is also advice for us to consider in relation to future governance of Adaptation Planning in Reading, which is something we can develop over the next few years. The Reading Climate Change Adaptation Plan highlights the key stages which we need to progress through in Reading to become more resilient to the impacts of climate change as follows: