Derry City and Strabane District CouncilClimate Change Adaptation Plan 2020-2025

Vulnerability to climate change is determined by three factors:
1. Exposure to hazards such as increased temperatures, rainfall
and storms (E.g. houses located in flood plains are exposed to
increased rainfall)
2. Sensitivity to these hazards (E.g. the level to which a house is
prepared for flooding such as having flood gates in place)
3. Capacity to adapt to these hazards (for example, where
emergency response measures are in place);
Adaptation actions aim to reduce
vulnerability to climate change by lowering
sensitivity or building adaptive capacity
Planned and pre-emptive adaptation is required to costeffectively
minimise potential climate change risks.
Adaptation actions can be ‘grey’; relying on technological or
engineering solutions, ‘green’; making use of nature, and ‘soft’;
aiming to alter human behaviour and styles of governance.
In reality, adaptation will involve a mix of adaptation responses
or ‘combined adaptation actions’ that will include grey,
green and soft adaptation actions, autonomous and planned
adaptation. (Climate Ireland, 2020.)
Government response in the UK includes the Climate Change
Act 2008 and the Northern Ireland Climate Change Adaptation
Programme 2019.
In addition to government and policy direction, climate action
is growing among the general public as can be seen by climate
strikes and climate activists such as the Extinction Rebellion
movement. The focus of such movements are to call on
government and industry to prioritise climate action and the
reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The most recent NI
public perception survey revealed that climate change was the
biggest environmental concern for households in Northern
Ireland in 2019/20. (DAERA, 2020)
DCSDC Climate Change Adaptation Plan
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