Resilient Swansea

We can already see positive action taking place in Swansea to tackle the effects of climate change, but there is much more to be done. Resilient Swansea is a new initiative to bring people together from across the county to seek their views on how to best tackle climate change in their local area to create a greener, stronger community.

The climate is changing, and we are already seeing impacts. We are experiencing warmer, wetter, winters and hotter, drier summers which are expected to become the norm

We know that we are likely to be faced with more adverse weather conditions, which is why we need to start planning how we be ready to respond to challenges if and when they arise. This can only be achieved if we come together to create a positive vision and begin to set out a roadmap for a more resilient Swansea.

Positive action already underway

• The Mumbles sea defences, constructed to protect against sea level rises
• Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management programmes coming forward in Birchgrove, Clydach, Clyne, Killay, Morriston, Gorseinon and Sandfields
• Research at Swansea University into how to provide society with the knowledge needed to predict and protect against the threat of wildfires
• The Penderi Energy Project, in Blaen-y-Maes, the UK's largest renewable energy retrofit project of its kind, retrofitting up to 600 homes with new technology to help save on energy bills but also to ensure that homes are fit for the future.

Climate change in Swansea: key issues

Swansea is known for its beautiful diverse landscapes and vibrant communities and as everyone here knows, rain and moderate temperatures are a core part of its coastal character.

However, the effects of climate change are already being felt. In recent years, Swansea has experienced flooding, extreme storms and wildfires.

Across Wales, average land temperature in the decade 2010-2019 was 0.9°C warmer than in the period of mid 1970s to mid-2010s, up to 10°C from 9°C (Netherwood, A., 2021). Most notable is the greater incidence of hot summer maximum temperatures in Wales. For example, in the summer of 2021 the Met Office issued the first extreme heat warning across Wales, including Swansea.

This means climate change is not only a global issue, but a local problem with significant local impacts, particularly for some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

• Hot summers are expected to become more common. By 2050, every other summer may be as hot as the record breaking summer of 2022.
• Sea level will continue to rise in the 21st Century even if greenhouse gas emissions are reduced rapidly.
• Increased flooding will cause damage to property andwill threaten Swansea's infrastructure.
• Extreme weather - increased storm effects and heavy rainfallwill impact communities and infrastructure in the area
• Water resource pressure - reduced summer rainfalland higher temperatures will cause water resource pressure for urban and rural communities
• Roads and transport - increased climate-linked disruption will threaten Swansea's transport infrastructure, not only impacting on our ability to travel around but also may affect the delivery of goods and services
• Natural habitat pressure - although Wales might be at a lower risk of wild-fires compared to other regions, the increasing frequencyof these events due to climate change pose an increasing risk to Swansea's natural habitats and communities.
• Health and wellbeing - Changing climate conditions, such as increased heatwaves, can have direct and indirect effects on the health of Swansea's residents.

Adapting to change

'Adaptive capacity' is the ability of individuals, organisations and communities to adjust to potential damage, to take advantage of opportunities, or to respond to consequences (IPCC, 2018).

We also need to consider that climate impacts have unequal effects, and in the case of many climate risks, it often is the most vulnerable in society that will be most impacted. 

For example, people with health conditions are likely to be more impacted by extreme heat.  Or some people who live in properties subject to flood risk may struggle more to respond to flooding, for example:

• through difficultly in accessing measures to protect their homes,
• carrying out physical actions such as lifting sandbags, and
• accessing insurance

Why we need you to get involved

Creating a Resilient Swansea will need a collaborative effort to enable us to understand the full picture, and start to come up with ways in which we may be able to tackle future challenges.

In order to do this, we want to work with people from across Swansea to help us develop a strategy to enable us to respond to climate change, now and in the future.

We need to create a vision for Swansea that sets out how we can be adaptable in the face of change, and be able to bounce back from future adversities.

We are therefore bringing together organisations, communities and residents to help us explore the issues and opportunities, and begin to set out a roadmap for a more resilient Swansea. 

This will explore a range of considerations in the context of climate adaptation, such as:

• how we create healthy and sustainable communities,
• how we can foster vibrant and safe places for people to live and work, and
• how we enhance and protect nature and our environment.

Our future strategy needs to have wellbeing at its core, as well as ensure everyone's needs are reflected across all parts of society. In particular, this needs to include our future generations who will be most impacted by the decisions we make today.

Sign up to a workshop near you

Come together to understand the challenges that Swansea faces in the coming years as a result of changing weather patterns, how it will affect you and how we can work together to create solutions.

We want to hear about your experiences, ideas and reflections on how we can ensure that Swansea thrives while rising to this challenge.

The outcome of the workshops will be a report which will form the basis of a strategy on how Swansea can become more resilient,  responding to the climate emergency while meeting the needs of our community.

Our workshops are taking place across Swansea with Welsh and English language discussion groups as well as light refreshments provided. Ideally you will join the workshop closest to your local community.

Workshop number	Date	Time	Venue
Workshop 1	Monday 9 September 2024	2.00pm to 4.30pm	Trallwn  Community Centre, Bethel Rd, Llansamlet, SA7 9QP
Workshop 2	Monday 9 September 2024	6.30pm to 9.00pm	Mayhill Community Centre, Mayhill, SA1 6TD
Workshop 3	Thursday 12 September 2024	6.00pm to 8.30pm	Tycoch College, Tycoch Rd, Sketty, SA2 9EB
Workshop 4	Friday 13 September 2024	1.30pm to 4.00pm	Llanrhidian Primary School, Llanrhidian, SA3 1EH
Workshop 5	Friday 13 September 2024	6.00pm to 8.30pm	Capel Hope Siloh Chapel, 53 St Teilo St, Pontarddulais, SA4 8SY
Workshop 6	Saturday 14 September 2024	2.00pm to 4.30pm	Dylan Thomas Centre, Somerset Place, SA1 1RR
Workshop 7	Tuesday 24 September 2024	2.00pm to 4.30pm	Forge Fach Resource Centre, Hebron Road, Clydach, SA6 5EJ
Workshop 8	Tuesday 24 September 2024	6.00pm to 8.30pm	Morriston  Memorial Hall, Heol Gwernen, Morriston, SA6 6JR.
Workshop 9	Wednesday 25 September 2024	3.00pm to 5.30pm	Upper Killay Recreation Hall, Fairwood Ln, Upper Killay, SA2 7HP
Workshop 10	Wednesday 25 September 2024	7.00pm to 9.30pm	Pennard Community Hall Pennard Rd, Pennard, Southgate, SA3 2AD
Workshop 11	Thursday 26 September 2024	2.00pm to 4.30pm	Ostreme Centre, Castle Ave, Mumbles, SA3 4BA
Workshop 12	Thursday 26 September 2024	6.30pm to 9.00pm	Gower Rechabite Hall, Church St, Gowerton, Swansea SA4 3EA

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You can click here to sign up. 

Deadlines for signing up have been extended to:

• Trallwn and Mayhill - 11.00am, 6 September 
• Tycoch, Llanrhidian, Pontarddulais and Dylan Thomas Centre - 10 September 
• All other workshops - 18 September 

If you are unable to attend a workshop, we still want to hear your perspective on creating a greener, stronger Swansea. Please complete this short feedback form by no later than Friday 4 October.

Resilient Swansea is funded by the UK Government's Levelling Up and is delivered by the Swansea Climate Signatories Group.

In order for Swansea to reach the goal of Net Zero by 2050 we all need to work together. That's why Swansea Council set up the Climate Charter Signatories Group to work collaboratively and strategically across our county on the journey to Net Zero. This Group is the vehicle by which all work for 2050 will be delivered by Swansea Council.

The group is also leading on Step 3 of the Swansea Well-being Plan for the Public Services Board.