In this blog post, BACCC member Susannah Lynn shares an update on the impact of extreme heat and the efforts being made to support Bristol to adapt to, and prepare for, longer periods of extreme heat.Susannah works as a Research Consultant at Miller Research (UK) Ltd.
Those of us in Bristol and across the UK will have been experiencing (and enduring) some incredibly hot temperatures this summer. This year, Western Europe experienced its warmest June on record1, and a recent study conducted by the UK Met Office scientists warns that UK heatwaves could become even longer and hotter2.
The concerning reality is that this extreme heat is a direct risk to public health, with scientists stating the recent June heatwave caused an estimated 2,300 excess deaths across Europe3. Further research has shown a substantial association between elevated temperatures and adverse health outcomes, with just a 1°C temperature increase correlating with a rise in serious illness and mortality. 45
These statistics emphasise the urgency for adaptation strategies to reduce the mortality burden of the hotter summers to come. Although they require careful planning, adaptation measures are proven to be broadly effective, with a study showing that the similarly high 2023 death toll from heat could have been up to 80% higher in the absence of existing measures.6
The Climate Adaptation Research and Innovation Framework, published by parliament in April 2025, marks a new approach to addressing the UK priorities for research and innovation in this area, based on the third Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA3). The framework crucially recognises that some are more at risk from both climate change and implemented adaptation measures than others: [‘Climate adaptation R&I needs to consider socio-economic vulnerabilities so that adaptation does not introduce or reinforce social inequalities.’]7
The Bristol Advisory Committee for Climate Change (BACCC) are cognisant of this pressing issue and is making efforts in the adaptation and climate resilience space.
In September 2024, BACCC held a workshop to provide feedback on the draft of the co-developed West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (WECA) Climate Adaptation Report. This report is part of the UK Government’s fourth Adaptation Reporting Power, known as ARP4. Under the Climate Change Act 2008, organisations must explain the climate risks they face, the actions they are taking to adapt, and how much progress they have made. The information gathered through ARP4 helps build a clearer picture of the challenges, and supports stronger action to prepare the UK for a changing climate. After the initial workshop, the work was continued by a task and finish group of BACCC members to provide a further comprehensive review of the full ARP4 draft with WECA colleagues. The West of England Report recognised the climate adaption challenges that the region faces including rising and record breaking heat events, flood risks, local vulnerabilities and the impact on public health and infrastructures while also calling for greater investment, national support and the step change needed to ensure adaption activities are resourced in line with accelerating risks. This work is vital for accountability and preparing Bristol and its residents for extreme weather associated with Climate Change.
To read more on the work BACCC have done in the adaptation space, and to find further information and resources on extreme heat in Bristol, read our blog: Baking in the City.
If you require information on how to cool your home during periods of extreme heat, you can access the Overheating Adaptation Guide for Homes, commissioned by the British Red Cross.
The Bristol Advisory Committee on Climate Change (BACCC) is seeking new members with the relevant skills, experience and knowledge to contribute to BACCC’s purpose and key priorities in the year ahead.
BACCC is an independent technical committee that provides advice to the Bristol One City Boards, Bristol City Council and other key stakeholders, and assesses progress towards the city’s climate goals.
Its members have wide ranging skills, experience and knowledge related to the climate crisis. Together they aim to support Bristol’s progress in achieving net zero by 2030 and adapting to climate change in an effective, inclusive, and just manner.
Joining the Committee
BACCC is currently seeking new members with skills and expertise to support the committee in its purpose, particularly relating to its priorities for the year ahead. This includes technical expertise in the following areas:
climate adaptation and resilience
community resilience to climate impacts
natural environment and co-benefits with climate resilience and net zero
business and economy (developing and measuring emissions reduction and resilience action)
data, knowledge and tools for local decision making (sources, translation, application)
food and land use
Please note that membership is offered to individuals, rather than official representatives of organisations or sectors. However, we recognise that many members may draw upon their organisational knowledge and resource, including attending meetings during a working day.
“Bristol is a city where progress and action on the climate emergency actually happens. Expertise and experience is needed, and welcomed, to make it happen faster. Working on climate change science and policy in international and national arenas for 35 years has been frustratingly slow. Working with local decision makers, organisations and communities has been a breath of fresh air. If you would like to get involved in the Bristol Advisory Committee on Climate Change, please get in touch.”
Prof Jo House, Founding Co-Chair, BACCC
BACCC meets for around 2.5 hours every two months and currently holds both in-person (central Bristol) and online meetings, with a mix of morning or afternoon meetings and dates sent out well in advance. There are occasional topic-specific working group meetings or review/report tasks in between main BACCC meetings.
Members are expected to attend meetings regularly, contribute to working groups or the development of reports and statements where relevant.
How to express your interest
Download the full information pack to learn more and express your interest. There is a short form to complete where you will be be asked to outline how your experience, skills and knowledge can contribute to BACCC’s purpose in a maximum of 750 words.
The first deadline for expressions of interest is midday on 6 May 2025 – however applications after this date may still be considered subject to availability on the panel and to meet any remaining gaps in specific expertise/knowledge.
The Partnership is committed to making adjustments for people who face barriers. If you would like to discuss this in relation to either your participation in the committee or in the application process itself, please contact us at contact@bristolclimatenature.org.
Expert register
Those who would like to contribute to BACCC’s work but have less capacity may wish to apply to join the Expert Register, which is called upon when additional support or specific expertise is needed (e.g. receiving invitations to attend specific themed workshops).
Building Resilience and Adapting to Extreme Temperatures.
In June 2024, the Bristol Advisory Committee on Climate Change (BACCC) held a workshop on heat resilience. In this blog, Jim Longhurst, Emeritus Professor at UWE Bristol and member of the BACCC, reflects on the workshop and learnings for the city.
Temperatures approaching 40 degrees Celsius, wildfires breaking out, increasing demand for hospital and GP services, road surfaces at risk of melting, the swing bridge opening mechanism struggling in the heat.
This isn’t a natural disaster in a faraway country but impacts experienced in Bristol due to the 2022 and 2023 heatwaves.
In June 2024 the Bristol Advisory Committee on Climate Change convened a workshop to discuss the challenge of increasing summer temperatures in the city and to explore the actions that can be taken to adapt and build resilience in the face of a changing climate. In BACCC’s review of progress with the One City Climate Strategy the need for enhanced action on adaptation was highlighted and this workshop aimed to explore what we know about the impact of heatwaves in Bristol, the gaps in knowledge that must be addressed and how we can prepare and adapt for future heatwaves.
The current approach to adaptation isn’t working
It is a question of when, not if, a future heatwave will affect the UK. The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) confirmed that 2023 was the warmest year on record, with the global average near-surface temperature at 1.45 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial baseline. It also was the warmest ten-year period on record. The Barcelona Institute for Global Health estimated that over 70,000 excess deaths occurred across Europe during the 2022 heatwave.
Against the backdrop of new temperature records and heatwaves the United Nations Environment Programme published their Adaptation Gap Report 2023. The report highlighted how ill prepared the world is for adapting to rising temperatures and other climate change impacts. There is inadequate investment and insufficient planning on climate adaptation leaving the world exposed to climate risks.
The high temperatures experienced in 2022 and 2023 have continued into 2024. In the early summer of 2024 the BBC reported that extreme heat was affecting countries around the world. In the USA more than 70 million people were subject to warnings about extreme temperatures whilst Northern India experienced a weeks-long heatwave, with temperatures of 44-45 degrees Celsius being recorded. Greece reported the earliest heatwave yet experienced in the country. In Saudi Arabia more than 1000 pilgrims attending the Hajj are thought to have died as temperatures reached 51 degrees Celsius.
In the UK Baroness Brown, Chair of the Climate Change Committee’s Adaptation Committee said “The evidence of the damage from climate change has never been clearer, but the UK’s current approach to adaptation is not working”. Brown also said “We cannot wait another five years for only incremental improvement” arguing that Government needs to overhaul its adaptation work and better integrate it with other Government priorities. This message of ill preparedness was also present in the Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) 2023 report to Parliament assessing England’s progress in adapting to climate change. The hard hitting report described the impacts from extreme weather in the UK in 2022 highlighting the urgency of adapting to climate change. However, the report went on to note that the second National Adaptation Programme has not adequately prepared the UK for climate change. The CCC’s assessment found “very limited evidence of the implementation of adaptation at the scale needed to fully prepare for climate risks facing the UK across cities, communities, infrastructure, economy and ecosystems”. The Government’s Third National Adaptation Programme has been published covering the period 2023 to 2028. Actions included in the programme include planning for more green spaces in urban areas to help keep them cool and building infrastructure that can withstand expected climate impacts such as extreme heat and flooding.
Over the next few decades heatwaves will become more frequent, with higher temperatures and are likely to last longer. Heatwave impacts will intensify unless measures are implemented to adapt to the future climate and to build resilience in communities, businesses, agriculture and infrastructure.
How prepared is Bristol for further heatwaves?
Within the context of national ill preparedness and global heat waves, BACCC wanted to better understand the actions underway to prepare Bristol for the heatwaves to come. In order to do this the workshop explored four areas of action.
What actions are underway or planned at the regional scale by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA)?
What actions are Bristol City Council taking at the city scale?
What actions are being taken by the NHS to protect the population and ensure services continue to operate?
What role can community groups play in communicating awareness and supporting the local population during heatwaves?
The West of England Combined Authority’sClimate and Ecological Strategy and Action Plan sets out the actions to be taken to tackle the biggest threats from a changing climate and foregrounds work with partners to accelerate action which protects residents and businesses. A critical part of current work is building the evidence base and assembling the necessary data and sources of further information. WECA will be reporting on adaptation actions in the pilot programme for local government as part of Adaptation Reporting Power (ARP4). BACCC has agreed to review the ARP report and contribute its expertise where needed.
Protecting vulnerable people, the public, council employees and council services during heatwaves
Future-proofing growth and city regeneration
Tackling overheating risk in people’s homes
Using blue green infrastructure for cooling streets and public spaces
The Keep Bristol Cool mapping tool is an important element of Bristol’s work and shows how vulnerability varies across the city. The annual Quality of Life Survey has highlighted areas of the city reporting problems with overheating. In Central, Bishopston and Ashley Down, Southville, Cotham and Ashley wards over 40% of households already experience overheating issues. Bristol has identified the following impacts of prolonged high temperatures and heatwaves during the summer months:
buildings overheating
decreased worker productivity
highways affected by high temperatures
increased demand for green spaces, especially in dense, urban areas
increased impacts on health and wellbeing of vulnerable people
pressure on health and social care systems with spikes in calls to the NHS helpline
hospital admissions
deaths
The Integrated Care System (ICS) for Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire provided a health perspective on adaptation and heat resilience. In the 2022 heatwave the UK suffered over 3000 excess deaths from heat related issues. On 19 July when the temperature reached 40.3 degrees Celsius, 638 excess deaths occurred. In Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire it is estimated that some 50 people die each year in extreme heat conditions, under a medium-emission scenario, this figure would increase to roughly 95 people a year by 2050.
Heatwaves have a negative effect on mental health disorders, chronic health conditions, respiratory diseases, infections from bacteria, fungi and viruses, vector borne diseases, cardiovascular diseases and can lead to an increased risk of injury. The impacts of a heatwave can be very unequal with the impacts particularly affecting older people, those under five, people with pre-existing health conditions, people with mobility challenges, the socially isolated and tenants in private or social housing.
There are a range of adaptations to reduce the health risk including:
Mediate the heat risk in care settings
Health education around heat
Communicate heat health action plans
Heat wave and pollen count warning
Providing cooling shelters
Bristol’s Community Groups are a vitally important source of local knowledge. Eastside Community Trust (ECT) described the actions they have taken as part of the Community Climate Action Project. As a trusted local organisation, service provider and networked across their community they have an unrivalled local knowledge and can help in identifying the most vulnerable in their area. It is important that messaging about heat risk is sensitive to the specific needs, challenges and cultures of an area and groups like Eastside Community Trust are well positioned to provide advice on how this should be undertaken. The area of Bristol served by ECT has a highly diverse population, with a large percentage of residents living in flats or rental properties. Overcrowding is a particular issue and there is limited access to green space. Together these issues can be problematic in times of high temperature.
The workshop had a wide ranging discussion about knowledge gaps, urgency and pace of implementing actions to prepare the city, expected impacts on health, the economy and nature, inequalities in the impact on people, likely impact on council and other public services, timescales for action and priority actions.
It is clear that heatwaves are not just a public health challenge for health and wellbeing. They have a fundamental impact across society locally and globally, affecting wildlife, food security, provision of public services, infrastructure functionality, the wider economy and many other issues. There is an urgent need to build resilience and to adapt to a changing climate. The clock is ticking.
Next steps
BACCC will continue to work closely with the One City Environment Board and the other city wide Boards to ensure recommendations for actions around resilience and adaptation are incorporated into citywide planning.
BACCC would like to thank Lucy Vilarkin, Ben Smallwood, Sam Willitts and Vic Wakefield-Jarrett for their insightful contributions to the workshop.
There are many ways to contribute to Bristol’s climate action and plenty of support available. Find out more about how you can play your part whether as an individual, as part of a business, or through your community on Bristol’s Climate Hub website.
If you are working on adaptation and resilience and would like to connect with BACCC, please get in touch via contact@bristolclimatenature.org.
BACCC is supported by the Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership you can join the Partnership here.
The latest report from the Bristol Advisory Committee on Climate Change (BACCC) reviews citywide progress on tackling the climate crisis and concludes that, although there is some positive progress, the city is still way off meeting its 2030 carbon neutral and climate resilient targets.
BACCC is an independent committee which provides expert advice on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of a changing climate. Their latest report is an assessment of progress against the One City Climate Strategy which was launched by the Environment Board in March 2020, setting out the pathway for the city to reduce carbon emissions and build resilience to a changing climate by 2030.
Dr Jo House and Professor Jim Longhurst, Co-Chairs of BACCC said “There are many encouraging examples of innovative climate action from across the city, such as the creation of Bristol City Leap – which aims to accelerate energy efficiency, district heating and renewable electricity generation, and the Community Climate Action Project – supporting communities to take a leading role in shaping Bristol’s transition to a low carbon and climate resilient city. However, climate change is not slowing down so unless we act collectively and urgently to scale up action in other areas, the ambitions set out will not be met.”
The UK Climate Change Committee is making similar warnings on a national scale, as is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on a global scale. BACCC have made 12 recommendations for the city to help inform policy and move the agenda forward, including analysis of the 2022 heat wave and lessons learnt; the need for more data to assess progress; city-wide climate engagement activity; and the scaling up of successful initiatives such as Bristol Green Capital Partnership’s Climate Action Programme.
According to BACCC, transport is one of the areas with the least progress. They suggest a large well-funded public transport intervention is necessary, as well as further investment in walking and cycling infrastructure, to offer an alternative to the high dependency on private car use. Alongside transport, infrastructure interdependencies is another area lacking in progress, for example, understanding the risk that extreme weather poses to water, sewerage, power distribution, highways, railways and telecommunications.
Councillor Kye Dudd, Co-Chair of the One City Environment Board and Cabinet Member for Climate, Ecology, Waste and Energy says: “Our Labour administration has already invested some £100 million in decarbonisation work since 2016, as we continue to build homes and tackle the climate emergency. Mayor Marvin Rees was right to set up Bristol’s Advisory Committee on Climate Change to independently scrutinise our city’s continued progress towards carbon neutrality.
“It’s reassuring that the report recognises the significance of the £630 million initial planned investment secured through Bristol City Leap’s clean energy partnership to cut energy bills, create jobs, and slash carbon emissions. Clearly similar scales of investment are required across all sectors. As we continue to plant historic numbers of new trees here, Bristol City Leap is an important green shoot of hope both locally, nationally, and internationally. After more than a decade of national austerity, we need meaningful change in the UK and globally to unlock the further finance required for Bristol and other cities to build on our progress in tackling the climate emergency.”
Ann Cousins, Co-Chair of the One City Environment Board said “The Environment Board welcomes this review of the One City Climate Strategy and acknowledges that faster progress is needed to respond to the climate emergency. The council cannot progress this agenda alone; addressing the climate emergency needs the innovation, capacity and resources of the wider city and beyond to work collaboratively towards a more sustainable city.”
There are many ways to contribute to Bristol’s climate action and plenty of support available. Find out more about how you can play your part whether as an individual, as part of a business, or through your community on Bristol’s Climate Hub website.
“The Local Plan consultation is a massive opportunity to shape planning decisions that will affect both the climate resilience and climate impacts of Bristol. Not just for the next 20 years that the plan covers, but for many, many years to come.” Jo House, University of Bristol (BACCC Co-chair)
Bristol’s new local plan will update all existing policies for deciding planning applications and guide development across the city over the next twenty years. Following previous rounds of consultation, this winter Bristol City Council sought views on the drafts of additional and revised policies and proposals that they propose to include in the new local plan. The topics covered by this stage of the consultation included ecology, homes, jobs, sustainability, design policy, sites for development, and applications for advertising.
In response to this, the members of Bristol Advisory Committee on Climate Change (BACCC) reviewed these draft policies and have submitted a report to Bristol City Council to share their conclusions.
The report reflects BACCC’s broad support for the intent of the draft policies and commends the fact that these indicate the plan’s potential to become one of the more ambitious and progressive local plans in its residential targets. However, it also raises some key points in relation to the draft policies in order to constructively support the development of more robust Local Plan policies.
These point include:
Highlighting opportunities for a more strategic approach
Recommendations relating to how the Local Plan should stay ahead of the curve, how policies could be implemented / enforced, and how the plan can support a Just Transition
Commenting on policies relating to net zero and climate mitigation, adapting to a changing climate, and biodiversity.
The Bristol Advisory Committee on Climate Change welcomed the opportunity to have engaged with the Local Plan consultation and Co-Chairs Jo House, University of Bristol, and James Longhurst, University of the West of England, have expressed their thanks to all who have contributed – including BACCC members, the BACCC Register of Experts, Bristol Green Capital Partnership, and to Bristol City Council for engaging with the process.
All responses to the consultation will feed into the next stage of the draft plan which will be published for representations in Summer 2023 and open to further public comment. Following this stage, the plan will be submitted for examination by the planning inspector with the aim for it to be adopted in Autumn 2024.
BACCC is an independent committee that provides advice on the climate crisis to Bristol City Council, the Bristol One City Boards and other key city stakeholders and assesses progress towards the city’s climate goals.
Its members have wide ranging skills, experience and knowledge related to the climate crisis. Together they aim to support Bristol’s progress in achieving net zero by 2030 and adapting to climate change in an effective, inclusive, and just manner.
The BACCC is seeking at least five new members for the committee with skills, experience and knowledge that can contribute to BACCC’s purpose. This could include:
Expertise on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and/or adapt to climate change at the city level;
Knowledge and experience of the impact of the climate crisis on Bristol and its communities;
Expertise on climate vulnerabilities and building community resilience to climate impacts;
Experience with policy, system and/or behaviour change;
Public engagement and/or communications expertise;
Knowledge around climate justice, just transition and lived experience of climate impacts.
Time Commitment: BACCC meets for around two hours once a month and currently holds both in-person (central Bristol) and online meetings, with a mix of morning or afternoon meetings and dates sent out well in advance. Members are expected to attend meetings regularly, plus contribute to working groups, the development of reports and statements, and/or act as a rep to a One City Board. This amounts to roughly 5 hours per month.
Financial remuneration: Financial remuneration for time, support and mentoring can be made available for successful candidates who feel that otherwise they would not be able to play a full and active role in the BACCC’s work (on a case-by-case basis).
Membership and diversity: BACCC would like to increase the diversity of its membership and encourages applications from people from, and/or with knowledge or experience of groups currently under-represented, including black and minority ethnic communities; Disabled people; and young people (aged 18 – 24).
How to apply
Find more information about BACCC and the role of members see here.
To express interest, please send us:
An outline of how your experience, skills and knowledge can contribute to BACCC’s purpose in a maximum of 300 words (short video applications also possible).
An optional equalities monitoring form. Download the form in Microsoft Word.
These should be sent to ceilidh@bristolgreencapital.org with the subject line “BACCC application” by end of day Sunday 6 November.
Bristol Advisory Committee on Climate Change 