Climate emergency network highlights the growing importance of local climate adaptation

Our Climate Emergency Network held its latest meeting on 24 July 2026 to share ideas, learn from others and explore practical solutions to local environmental challenges.

Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) joined the meeting, outlining their work supporting rural communities and highlighting the aims of the Rural Food Resilience Partnership. ACRE shared details of our ongoing collaboration, which includes work on flood resilience.

The network also heard updates from the Place Based Initiative and the Great Collaboration Project, who highlighted their engagement with county associations, the development of new networks and efforts to strengthen collaboration between national organisations supporting community-led environmental action.

There was also an update on the latest meeting of the local area adaptation panel, including discussion of the Climate Change Committee's Well-Adapted UK report. The report reinforced the importance of local action in responding to climate risks. It highlighted ongoing work to gather examples of good practice, as well as provide guidance and support on issues such as heatwaves and flooding.

There was also a dedicated discussion on increasing parish and town council and community engagement in climate action, which generated a wide range of ideas and examples. The network shared successful local projects, collaborative initiatives and practical approaches to building support for climate action within communities.

The meeting concluded with the network reflecting on the key themes that emerged throughout the session, including the growing importance of climate adaptation, the value of positive and practical messaging, and the benefits of sharing experiences and learning from others.