Managing the impacts of extreme weather.
As board chairs, we have been reflecting, with our other LGA lead members, on the impact of extreme weather events such as flooding and wildfires on councils, fire authorities and, crucially, communities.
There are three key challenges: first, to adapt to the risks of climate change to reduce the impact of extreme weather events; second, to best prepare our responses to extreme weather events as they occur; and third, to help to develop and support community resilience.
With another warm, dry summer under way, fire and rescue services have already had an incredibly busy year for wildfires.
More than 500 wildfires have been recorded in England and Wales between January and June, a 717 per cent increase compared with the same period in 2024 – which, by contrast, was a record-breaking year for flood alerts and warnings in England, which increased by a third to their highest level since records began.
The frequency and severity of extreme weather events are predicted to continue to rise, and it is vital that we plan and prepare for these risks.
The National Risk Register now includes a significant number of weather-related risks, including wildfires, coastal and surface water flooding, and related resilience issues such as regional electricity failure.
The LGA has been calling for a rapid acceleration in national efforts to adapt to climate change, as set out in our ‘Accelerating adaptation action’ report.
Public preparedness remains low. Polling shows that only 5 per cent of people feel ready for how climate change will impact them. We know that the public are most likely to trust their local authority to lead the local effort to prepare for these impacts.
Helping communities to be resilient and understand and prepare for the risks is a key task for the whole sector.
Partnerships between local authorities, emergency services, and non-statutory partners, including faith groups and the voluntary sector, continue to be vital in building local resilience and preparedness.
We also believe there is an urgent need for a renewed relationship between national and local government, building greater coordination at the national level across government departments and agencies.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is responsible for land management and promoting wildfire mitigation and adaptation planning to land managers.
Since April, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has had responsibility for fire policy and safety, and there is a range of other government agencies – including Natural England, the Forestry Commission and the Environment Agency – that have a role.
Government departments and agencies should coordinate to look at the potential impact policies around land management and conservation may have on flood or wildfire risk, and the effect these could have on the environment and communities.
Government needs to work together to understand the impact of policies, and ensure that land management, planning and emergency response policies are aligned and support local resilience.
As members, we are wholly committed to working together, and with government, to ensure that councils have the tools, resources and clarity they need to protect communities.
It is time for a joined-up, long-term approach to managing the impacts of extreme weather, one that empowers local government to lead the way in building a safer, more resilient future.
- See ‘Accelerating adaptation action: councils preparing for climate change’ for more information.