December 2022
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This conference focused on current policy priorities for tackling flooding and coastal erosion - with keynote contributions from Defra, the Environment Agency, and the National Infrastructure Commission.
It was an opportunity to examine new research, plans, and initiatives for flood and climate resilience and adaptation - as well as the latest on funding, insurance regimes, infrastructure and planning, collaboration, and practical action.
Delegates assessed the EA’s Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Strategy for England and discuss issues for its implementation - including improving prevention and preparation, local authority coordination, and monitoring effectiveness of measures.
With the NIC due to publish its Reducing the risks of surface water flooding study, discussion looked at how policies for flood and coastal erosion risk management dovetail with wider priorities, such as the National Infrastructure Strategy.
The conference was also a timely opportunity to discuss the future direction of government policy under the new prime minister, and the long-term targets and commitments to protect and restore the environment.
Overall, areas for discussion included:
- policy priorities: latest developments and thinking on adaptation and tackling the challenges of flooding - improving guidance and engagement with stakeholders in policy creation
- flood defences:
- innovation in infrastructure and nature-based solutions - improving agility in adapting to the effects of climate change
- working at a local level and improvement of cross-region working - identifying community needs - planning policy and buildings protection
- finance and insurance: priorities for public investment in prevention - private investment channels - the future of insurance, reinsurance, and eligibility
- data: improving sources of information to support flood risk mapping - improving ways of measuring changes in risk - monitoring - sharing evidence and best practice
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote contributions from James Perkins, Team Leader, Flood Policy Statement and Planning, Defra; Professor Jim Hall, Commissioner, National Infrastructure Commission; and Steven Tupper, FCERM Strategy Implementation Manager, Environment Agency.
The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from the BEIS; Cabinet Office; CCC; DAERA, NI; Defra; DfT; Department for Infrastructure, NI; DLUHC; Department of Finance NI; the Geospatial Commission; HM Treasury; the House of Commons Library; NIC; ORR; Northern Ireland Assembly; The Scottish Government; and the Welsh Government - as well as parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Lords.
