The National Climate Resilience and Emergency Preparedness Conference 2027
Previous Supporters Include
Overview
Climate resilience is no longer a future consideration for UK organisations; it is an immediate and escalating risk. UKHSA estimates that 2,877 heat-associated deaths occurred during two periods of hot weather in May and June 2026 alone, while A Well-Adapted UK (2026) highlights the urgent action needed to strengthen resilience across a country whose homes, infrastructure and services were largely built for a climate that no longer exists. With up to 92% of existing homes potentially overheating during hotter heatwaves, peak river flows projected to increase by up to 45%, and daily water supply shortfalls potentially exceeding five billion litres by 2050 (Climate Change Committee, 2026), climate emergencies are due to become increasingly severe and disruptive.
For organisations, the challenge is moving from understanding climate risk to taking practical action to strengthen resilience and protect the people, services and infrastructure they are responsible for. Failure to prepare could put lives and wellbeing at risk, disrupt essential services, damage critical infrastructure, and leave organisations struggling to respond in the case of a climate emergency. Now is the time to identify and understand the climate risks facing your organisation and take practical steps to strengthen resilience and preparedness for a changing UK climate.
Agenda
Online Registration
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Florence Bates, Head of CCRA and Adaptation Reporting, Climate Change Committee (invited)
Keynote: From Risk Assessment to Action: Embedding Climate Resilience in Policy and Decision-Making
- Examine the key principles of effective climate risk assessment and how organisations can identify the risks most relevant to their operations, assets and communities
- Assess the potential impacts of extreme heat, flooding, drought, water scarcity, wildfire and severe weather, and determine which risks require the greatest focus
- Explore how climate risk can be translated into practical priorities, policies and actions across organisational strategy and day-to-day operations
- Consider the UK Climate Resilience Roadmap and what it means for organisations, identifying practical steps to strengthen resilience and emergency preparedness
Simon McWhirter, Chief Executive, UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) (invited)
Keynote: Financial Preparedness for Climate Risk: Planning, Prioritising and Funding Resilience
- Discover how climate risks can translate into financial risks for organisations, affecting assets, operations, services, budgets and future investment
- Understand what climate resilience means for financial planning and how organisations can account for climate risks when setting priorities and allocating resources
- Explore how organisations can build climate risk and resilience into financial planning, business cases, investment decisions and wider organisational strategies
- Assess how to prioritise affordable resilience measures and develop financial plans that support long-term preparedness for a changing UK climate
Ingrid Holmes, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Green Finance Institute (invited)
Questions and Answers
Comfort Break
Keynote: Climate-Resilient Homes: Preparing Housing for a Changing UK Climate
- Examine the climate risks facing UK homes, from overheating and extreme heat to flooding, water stress and changing energy demands
- Assess how housing design, retrofit and maintenance can improve resilience and reduce exposure to climate-related disruption
- Explore the practical decisions facing housing providers, including how to prioritise properties and adaptation measures as climate risks increase
- Consider how climate-resilient homes can protect residents, particularly those most vulnerable to extreme weather, while supporting healthier, safer and more sustainable housing
Zainab Agha, Director, Resilience & Recovery, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (invited)
Case Study: From Climate Risk to Action: How Local Authorities are Delivering Climate Resilience
- Explore how local authorities are translating climate risk assessments into practical adaptation and resilience measures
- Examine how councils are preparing for multiple and escalating climate hazards, including flooding, extreme heat, storms, wildfire and drought
- Understand how climate resilience is being embedded across local planning, housing, infrastructure, service delivery and emergency preparedness
- Assess how green and nature-based infrastructure can be used alongside traditional infrastructure to reduce flooding, overheating and other climate risks
Daniella Jovanovic, Climate Resilience Manager, Westminster City Council (invited)
Questions and Answers
Lunch Break
Panel: Climate-Resilient Critical Infrastructure: Keeping Essential Services Operating During Extreme Weather
- Understand how changing climate risks are influencing the planning, maintenance and operation of critical infrastructure, including the implications for transport networks, roads, rail, energy, water, wastewater and construction
- Explore how climate resilience can be embedded into infrastructure planning for potential severe weather events
- Examine the interdependencies between critical infrastructure and essential services, and how disruption to one system can create cascading impacts across communities and organisations
- Discuss organisations can maintain continuity of essential services during extreme heat, flooding, drought, storms, wildfire and other severe weather events
Katherine Drayson, Senior Environment Manager, Transport for London (TfL) (invited)
Chris Walters, Chief Executive Officer, Ofwat (invited)
Laura Bartle, Head of Environment and Sustainability, National Grid (invited)
Questions and Answers
Breakout Networking
Join our breakout networking sessions to discuss the climate risks posing the greatest challenges to your organisation, share resilience action plans, and explore how climate policy can be embedded into risk management procedures.
Comfort Break
Keynote: Preparing Communities for Extreme Weather: Protecting Health, Reducing Vulnerability and Building Resilience
- Understand the growing public health implications of extreme heat, flooding and severe weather as the UK climate changes
- Identify the people and communities most at risk, considering how organisations can identify and protect them in the case of a climate event occurring
- Explore how organisations can use climate and health risk assessments to identify vulnerable populations and target preparedness and adaptation measures
- Consider practical approaches to strengthening community resilience before, during and after extreme weather events
Professor Lea Berrang Ford, Head, The Centre for Climate and Health Security (CCHS), The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) (invited)
Case Study: Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience: Managing Flooding, Heat and Water Stress
- Explore how nature-based solutions can help manage key UK climate risks, including flooding, extreme heat, water scarcity and drought
- Examine how nature-based approaches can work alongside infrastructure and adaptation measures to further UK climate resilience plans
- Consider how organisations can identify where nature-based solutions are most effective for reducing climate risk
- Identify the wider benefits of nature-based adaptation for biodiversity, soil health, ecosystems, agriculture and communities
Phil Metcalfe, Nature Based Solutions Lead Advisor, Environment Agency (invited)
Panel: A Multi-Agency Climate Emergency Response: Reducing Pressure on Frontline Services
- Explore how climate-related hazards including extreme heat, flooding, wildfire and severe weather are increasing pressures on frontline services, communities and critical systems
- Examine lessons from recent climate-related events to understand where adaptation, preparedness and earlier intervention can reduce vulnerability and prevent risks from escalating into emergencies
- Discuss how local authorities, emergency services, housing, health and infrastructure organisations can work together to strengthen community resilience, protect vulnerable populations and reduce pressure on frontline services
- Identify how organisations can move from reactive emergency response towards anticipatory action and preparedness
Phil Garrigan OBE KSFM, Chair, National Fire Chiefs Council (invited)
Darren Farmer, Director of Ambulance Operations, London Ambulance Service NHS Trust (invited)
Questions and Answers
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Florence Bates, Head of CCRA and Adaptation Reporting, Climate Change Committee (invited)
Conference Close
Get in Touch
Previous Speakers Include
Annie Pickering
Operations Director
Climate Emergency UK CLC
Beth Morley
Human Insights Lead
Cenex
Professor Mat Disney
Divisional Director Carbon Cycle
National Centre for Earth Observation, UCL
Naomi Rowe-Gurney
Research Development Manager
UKCEH
Testimonials
The user-friendly platform made it simple to navigate this online conference, moving between sessions and networking with other attendees. It felt well-organised overall and there was a good range of speakers and topics.
This event was vital in keeping up to date with the latest issues and opportunities. It has given me much to think about, many ideas and connections to build upon in my work. I will be reaching out to some of those involved to discuss matters further to advance my councils own climate change action plan.
The speakers were terrific. I learnt about new technology and data and I am excited to share these new learnings with my team.
This was an interesting event, and gave insight into the breadth of regional activity on climate, highlighting opportunities for partnership and engagement – it was really helpful to look up and engage outside of my own sector.
A big thank you to Government Events for organizing such an engaging and impactful conference. Looking forward to continuing these important conversations!
Why You Should Attend
✓ Understand the risks that matter to your organisation, explore how flooding, extreme heat, drought, storms, wildfires and other climate hazards could affect operations, assets, people and services
✓ Connect climate risk with organisational decision-making, understand how resilience can be embedded into strategy, investment, risk management and day-to-day operations
✓ Learn from practical experience, hear how other organisations are approaching climate adaptation, resilience planning and emergency preparedness
✓ Networking opportunities with senior colleagues from across sectors, including housing, local authorities, emergency services, infrastructure and the built environment
✓ 8 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota
Who Should Attend
| Job Title Examples | Organisation Type Examples |
| Director/Head of Environment and Climate Emergency | Local Authorities |
| Director of Public Health | Regional Authorities |
| Emergency Planning Officers | Housing Associations |
| Infrastructure Resilience Manager | Fire and Rescue Services |
| Head of Climate Adaptation and Climate Resilience | Transport Providers |
| Heads of Housing | Energy Providers |
| Director of Place | Community Action Groups |
| Head of Planning / Procurement | Civil Contingencies |
Pricing Options
PRIVATE SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
PUBLIC SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
VOLUNTARY SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
Sponsorship
Raise Your Profile, Showcase Your Solutions, Generate New Business
If your products, services, and solutions can support our audiences in their roles, and you want to make connections and generate new business with key stakeholders, decision makers, and influencers, then please contact us HERE
IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.
Virtual vs F2F
Whilst F2F provide better options for networking, there are many distinct advantages of sponsoring our online conferences including:
- Wider geographical reach of delegates and a different audience who prefer online to f2f
- Lower sponsorship package costs
- No travel/accommodation
- Less time out of the office
- No stand materials required (lower costs)
- 1 of only 2 sponsors involved – less competition on the day
- Prime speaking slot in the morning of the conference including Q&A – less distractions and easier for delegates to hear/absorb information
- Receive all delegate data after the conference to follow-up directly with those who attend and don’t attend (small % but still key stakeholders)
- Ongoing exposure via OnDemand access
To find out more and discuss your specific objectives, please contact us below:
