Led by Jonathan Moxon, Executive Manager, Flood and Climate Resilience at Leeds City Council and Programme Manager, West Yorkshire Flood Innovation Programme (WYFLIP) and Dr Steph Bond, iCASP Impact Translation Fellow
Cllr. Katie Kimber reflects on WYFLIP’s journey and outlines the vision for future climate resilience.
Participants identified a wide range of regional challenges that a WYFLIP-style partnership could tackle through collaborative action across various sectors. These included longstanding environmental and infrastructure-related problems such as poor water quality, fragmented flood warning systems, and underfunded nature-based solutions. There was strong emphasis on the need for better digital integration, smart communication around risk, and more equitable engagement strategies, particularly to align diverse goals across local authorities, public health, community groups and the private sector. Broader systemic issues such as climate adaptation, sustainable transport, and energy resilience also emerged as pressing areas.
Which areas have key challenges? (from Slido poll and discussion notes):
- Water Quality
- Integrated Water Management
- Sewage in Freshwater
- Engagement and Shared Goals
- Smart Early Warning Systems
- Interoperability and Integration
- Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) Programmes
- Extreme Weather and Flood Risk
- Moorland and Wildfires
- Sustainable Transport and Mass Transit
- Energy Production and Resilience
- Risk Communication
- Funding Models and Investment Programme Priorities
- Social Prescribing and Public Education
- Inertia in Existing Structures
Overarching Vision
Across all tables, the shared vision centred on creating a resilient, integrated, and future-ready regional approach to climate adaptation and flood risk management. Participants envisioned a system that is proactive rather than reactive – one that leverages both community engagement and cutting-edge technologies. The goal is to promote long-term sustainability, equity and collaboration into the very structure of how flood and climate resilience is approached in the Yorkshire and Humber region. This includes recognising the value of local knowledge and grassroots mobilisation alongside institutional leadership.
Key Collaborators
The workshop emphasised the need for cross-sector partnerships. Suggested collaborators included:
- Local authorities (for example, Bradford, Leeds, Wakefield, Calderdale, Kirklees)
- Flood Risk Management Authorities
- Community and voluntary sector organisations
- Academic institutions
- Infrastructure providers
- Digital innovation companies
- Emergency services
- Catchment partnerships
- Funding bodies
- Insurance and business sectors
Effective collaboration across these groups is seen as critical to moving beyond silos and developing a unified approach to resilience.
Key Themes
The workshop highlighted five interconnected themes that underpin effective climate resilience planning.
- Integrated Water and Land Management
- Digital Innovation and Real-Time Data
- Community Empowerment
- Policy and Governance Alignment
- Financing and Investment
These themes reflect the shared priorities of participants and offer a framework for future collaborative action across the region.
Enhance Cross-Sector Collaboration
- Foster cooperation across universities, water companies, local government, and none government organisations
- Build trust between technical experts and community stakeholders
Develop Smart Resilience Strategies
- Invest in real-time data systems and integrated modelling
- Expand the use of digital tools for prediction, planning and public alerts
Empower Communities
- Provide training and resources for community-led solutions
- Ensure equitable participation in decision-making
Secure Long-Term Funding
Advocate for funding to be linked to both infrastructure and social outcomes
Establish blended financing models using public and private capital