Best Example of Tackling Climate Change 2024

Climate Adaptation Handrail. Making decisions based on an uncertain climate future.

“Reducing our corporate carbon footprints and dealing with the impacts of climate change should now be embedded in most organisations thinking, but it is challenging especially for larger scale organisations. The National Trust has shown strong leadership in our sector in this respect and has provided an exemplar project in terms of how they are dealing with impacts of climate change across their portfolio. The climate hazard mapping is really positive and the fact that they have shared their work in the public realm is very helpful.”

Pictured: Rob Curry, National Trust receiving their ORN Success Award from Daithi de Forge, Coillte.

The National Trust is developing a methodology to help local decision-makers understand and navigate climate change uncertainty, ensuring its ability to protect special places long-term. This approach uses the climate hazard map, adaptation strategies, and data-driven insights from local experiences to create a roadmap for immediate and future climate actions. The process helps define actions, set decision-making thresholds, and integrates adaptation guidance. The Trust’s approach is people-centered and supported by public data, including the weather impact app.

Challenges:

Include the overwhelming scale of climate change and addressing climate anxiety. The Trust’s methodology breaks the process into manageable steps: Impact Assessment (using hazard data and local input) and Pathway Planning (defining near- and long-term actions). This reduces anxiety and helps individuals feel more in control by focusing on actionable steps.

The Trust has successfully integrated this approach into its Climate and Environmental Management Systems (CEMS), ensuring that climate-informed decisions are embedded in everyday operations. It actively shares its approach with other organizations, including partners like the RNLI and Met Office.

Outcomes and Benefits:

• The process has increased participation and buy-in from stakeholders.
• Site managers now prioritize tasks effectively, reducing stress and resource strain.
• Climate anxiety has reportedly decreased as understanding improves.
• The Trust’s efforts have attracted attention from national bodies like Defra and UNESCO.
• Their Climate for Change report reached 86 million people, raising awareness of how to navigate climate uncertainty.

Download the full report – A Climate for Change: Adaption and the National Trust