Glasgow City Region Adaptation Strategy - report

Glasgow City Region Climate Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan

Intervention 10 Enhance regional decision-making, and establish Glasgow City Region as a global research and knowledge hub for adaptation Aim: To fill evidence gaps, establish Glasgow City Region as a living lab for research and innovation, and draw on the collective strengths of our research institutions to provide actionable information for decision- making. In doing so, we will position Glasgow City Region as global hub on applied adaptation research, attracting world-leading researchers, enhancing institutional credentials and Glasgow City Region’s climate resilience, and delivering benefits for wider Scotland, the UK and global adaptation efforts. Background: Decisions on how and why to adapt Glasgow City Region need to be taken based on a robust understanding of potential risk, adaptation options and how they can be implemented. However, such research is not always transferrable – with local context and climatic conditions requiring specific consideration. The challenge: At present, Glasgow City Region does not have a structured process for identifying evidence and research gaps needed for delivering on adaptation and then implementing projects to bridge them. And where this does happen, such information is not always communicated effectively to inform decision-making. Instead, universities tend to approach individual institutions in the region driven by calls from research councils (which tend to focus on primary research needs as opposed to implementation of adaptation by cities and regions) as well as use informal knowledge and connections from individuals. Adapting effectively means better structuring this process, to add value to decision-making, and to facilitate high impact research. Over time this will contribute to positioning Glasgow City Region as a global hub in applied adaptation, attracting the best global researchers to work here, as well as retaining talent to work in the local and global interest. Where are we now: The University of Strathclyde, Glasgow Caledonian University, University of Glasgow, Glasgow School of Art and the University of the West of Scotland, and both our region’s colleges and the wider business community all have a role to play. As well as being a strong part of our region’s economy, they are training the next generation to help us manage and adapt to climate change and they have the research and innovation strengths which we can harness to support our efforts. Glasgow City Region has long been collaborating with research projects to try and fill evidence gaps through dedicated Horizon 2020 projects such as Connecting Nature and COACCH, as well as by supporting individual researchers in their own projects where there is alignment with our own needs. The Climate Risk and Opportunity Assessment highlights several priorities that need to be filled to support adaptation activity going forward.

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