Events

Extreme Weather Preparedness, Planning and Resilience: Moving Towards a Proactive 'Whole-Of-Society' Approach

Date:     Wednesday 12th February 2025

Time:     10:00am - 2:50pm

Venue:  ONLINE Live Conference - Check Your System / Device Compatibility


  • Event Abstract
  • Programme
  • Key Speakers
  • Who Should Attend?
  • Marketing Opportunities

The global climate crisis has led to a notable rise in the severity and frequency of extreme weather events across the UK, presenting significant challenges for national and local services. The devastating floods in Valencia, Spain, serve as a stark reminder of the life-threatening impacts such events can have, highlighting the urgent need for robust prevention frameworks, effective response strategies, and seamless coordination between agencies to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies.

In April, the Public Accounts Committee published a major report: Government Resilience: Extreme Weather, outlining seven key recommendations to strengthen the UK’s resilience to extreme weather. These recommendations emphasised the importance of long-term planning and investment, establishing resilience targets, and clarifying roles and responsibilities across local and national government, as well as within the private and voluntary sectors. The report also underscored the need for a strategic, "whole-of-society" approach to managing extreme weather risks, bringing together key partners to deliver a unified response.

To address this growing challenge, the Government established the Floods Resilience Taskforce, which brings together national, regional, and local government partners, members of the devolved administrations, local resilience forums, emergency responders, and other stakeholders. This initiative is supported by a £2.4 billion investment over the next two years to enhance flood defences and improve preparedness to better protect communities across the UK.

This timely online Policy Foresight conference provides a vital platform for key stakeholders from local authorities, emergency planning teams, civil contingencies, local resilience forums (LRFs), police, health, fire and rescue services, as well as the private and third sectors to explore how to address the growing threats posed by ever more frequent extreme weather events. Participants will examine the implications of the ongoing UK Resilience Review and the Local Resilience Forum Pilot Programme for improving national resilience. The event will provide an opportunity to learn from innovative best practices and exchange ideas about how to embed a ‘whole-of-society’ approach to resilience that safeguards communities, prioritises the protection of the most vulnerable, and deliver a coordinated response to increasingly severe and life-threatening weather events.

Why Attend?

  • Live webinar featuring presentations and panel discussions with a wide range of policymakers, experts from across the emergency planning, resilience, civil contingencies and national and local government
  • Interactive Question Time sessions with opportunities to engage with all speakers
  • Gain the latest insights into the ongoing UK Resilience Review, and the Local Resilience Forum (LRF) Pilot Programmes
  • Understand the growing threat of extreme weather events and explore how effective resilience strategies can mitigate their impact
  • Learn about the critical role of adaptation plans in preventing flooding, including surface water flooding
  • Discover how adopting a "whole-of-society" approach can enhance community protection, particularly for the most vulnerable
  • Share ideas with fellow participants from local authorities, local resilience forums, emergency planning / civil contingencies, the police, fire and rescue services, health, the private and third sectors
  • On Demand – Exclusive access to speaker presentations and post-event resources

    • Resource - The UK Government Resilience Framework

    News - 27 April 2023: UKHSA launches new Adverse Weather and Health Plan

    News - 1 June 2023: UKHSA launches new alerting system in collaboration with the Met Office

    Guidance - 4 December 2023: The UK Government Resilience Framework: 2023 Implementation Update

    Guidance - 6 December 2023: National Audit Office report - Government Resilience: Extreme Weather

    Guidance - 17 July 2024: The London Climate Resilience Review Final Report

    Guidance - 18 July 2024: UK Covid-19 Inquiry: Resilience and preparedness (Module 1) Report

    News - 16 September 2024: UK convenes global coalition to boost cyber skills and tackle growing threats

    News - 14 October 2024: Public urged to prepare for floods after wettest 18 months on record

    News - 6th December 2024: Rare red wind warning issued as Storm Darragh approaches

    9:30am

    Delegate Online Login

    10:00am

    Introduction by Webinar Organiser

    10:05am

    Chair's Welcome and Opening Remarks

    Deborah Higgins, Head of Resilience, Serco Training and Resilience

    10:10am

    Keynote Address:

    Strengthening National Resilience to Extreme Weather Events

  • Assessing the progress of the ongoing UK Resilience Review and its implications for enhancing national preparedness and response to extreme weather
  • Implementing a ‘whole system’ approach that integrates public, private, and voluntary sectors with local community efforts
  • Exploring the progress of the Stronger LRFs Pilot Programmes to enhance leadership, accountability and collaboration to build more resilient communities
  • Learning the lessons from the floods in Valencia, Spain – Ensuring effective communication, coordination and community engagement during severe weather incidents

    • Roger Hargreaves, Director of COBR (COBRA) Unit, National Security Secretariat, Cabinet Office

    10:30am

    Keynote Address: Questions and Discussion

    10:50am

    Comfort Break

    11:00am

    Panel Session One:

    Understanding and Responding to Escalating Climate Change Risks

  • Assessing the latest threats from the climate crisis, including the rising severity and frequency of extreme weather events
  • Leveraging Community Risks Registers to enhance collective awareness and understanding of local climate risks
  • Developing and implementing proactive local adaptation plans to reduce flood risks, incorporating place-based and nature-based solutions
  • Strengthening local and national systems for forecasting and alerting communities about floods and extreme weather
  • Identifying and addressing vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure to ensure it can withstand stresses from extreme weather events

    • Ed Beard, Assistant Director for the Environment, National Infrastructure Commission

    11:45am

    Panel Session One: Questions and Discussion

    12:00pm

    Comfort Break

    12:30pm

    Panel Session Two:

    Delivering Effective Emergency Responses and Building Long-Term Resilience

  • Understanding the role of the new Floods Resilience Taskforce in strengthening defences, improving emergency responses and bolstering long-term flood resilience
  • Enhancing collaboration and emergency response planning across central government, local authorities, resilience forums, health services, infrastructure providers, community responders, and emergency services to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events
  • Ensuring service and supply chain continuity during emergencies, especially in challenging remote and urban settings
  • Applying key principles for effective joint responses to extreme weather: co-location, communication, coordination, shared risk understanding, and situational awareness
  • Adapting resilience strategies to address the growing challenges posed

    • Caroline Douglass, Executive Director for Flood and Coastal Risk Management, Environment Agency

    1:15pm

    Panel Session Two: Questions and Discussion

    1:30pm

    Comfort Break

    1:45pm

    Panel Session Three:

    Protecting People and Communities through a ‘Whole-of-Society’ Approach

  • Enhancing public engagement and communication to foster a shared understanding of risks and promote preparedness
  • Building community-led resilience through the expertise of local businesses, community groups, and voluntary organisations, ensuring they have defined roles during emergencies
  • Providing targeted support to communities and prioritising assistance for the most vulnerable, who are disproportionately affected by extreme weather events
  • Leveraging health and care systems to protect public health and mitigate weather-related harm
  • Improving coordination with businesses to deliver service and supply chain continuity throughout emergencies

    • Ago de Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)

    Marcus Bowen, Capability Development Lead, VCS Emergencies Partnership

    2:30pm

    Panel Session Three: Questions and Discussion

    2:45pm

    Final Questions and Chair's Summary & Closing Comments

    2:50pm

    End of Online Conference

    *Please note the programme and timings are subject to slight alteration without notice
    COBR
    National Security Secretariat

    Roger Hargreaves (Keynote Address), Director, COBR (COBRA) Unit, National Security Secretariat, Cabinet Office

    Environment Agency

    Caroline Douglass, Executive Director for Flood and Coastal Risk Management, Environment Agency

    NIC

    Ed Beard, Assistant Director for the Environment, National Infrastructure Commission

    UKHSA

    Ago de Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)

    VCSEP

    Marcus Bowen, Capability Development Lead, VCS Emergencies Partnership

    Serco

    Deborah Higgins (Chair & Moderator), Head of Resilience, Serco Training and Resilience

    Policy Foresight

    More Speakers Coming Soon...

    • Representatives from Police, Fire & Rescue and Ambulance Services
    • Emergency Planning & Management Teams
    • EPRR Officers
    • First & Second Line Civil Contingency Leads
    • Flooding Leads
    • Heads and Members of Local Resilience Forums (LFRs)
    • Local Authority Officers & Councillors
    • Chief Fire Officers
    • Police & Crime Commissioners
    • Chief Constables, Asst Chief Constables & Deputies
    • Detective Inspectors & Detective Sergeants
    • Community Safety Managers
    • Community Engagement Managers
    • Community Safety Coordinators
    • Emergency Care Leads
    • Ambulance Services
    • NHS Organisations
    • Primary Care Trusts
    • Public Health Directors
    • Health Service Professionals
    • Head of Commissioning and Procurement
    • IT & Shared Services Teams
    • Critical Communication Network Providers
    • Risk Management Professionals
    • Business Continuity Teams
    • Resources & Estate Management Teams
    • Private Sector Organisations
    • Voluntary & Community Organisations
    • Academics & Researchers

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