The Local Climate Adaptation Tool (LCAT) brings together 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 for appropriate adaptation approaches, based on the best available evidence, to support the health and wellbeing of local people. LCAT is being co-developed with, and for, local authorities and local service providers.
LCAT allows the user to select a local area of interest 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 actions. The aim is to 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, ensures people can continue to gain the health and wellbeing benefits of cycling in a changing climate. The tool is free and open source, and is aimed at helping councils, the NHS and emergency services as well as local service providers to understand what is likely to happen and prioritise their climate adaptation approaches.
Associate Prof Emma Bland, Jess Dicken, Philippa Mina, Dr Tim Taylor, Associate Prof Ben Wheeler
