This is an example case study for the IES's TALK Board: Transformative Action Local Knowledge Board. This is not a real case study: it is designed to serve as an example to show how case study overviews will be presented through the platform. Once a case study has been submitted by a Local Authority and reviewed by the IES, it will be given its own overview page similar to the example below. TALK Board intends to serve as a central hub to support knowledge-sharing and better distribute local learning.
What is the local context?
The Example Case Study was run by Example Borough Council (EBC) in the Example region of the United Kingdom. EBC is the Local Authority for the Metropolitan Borough of Example. This Case Study was funded through Example Council's environmental health budget, with support from a local community organisation, Example Community Group (ECG), which received Example Funding Group funds for the project. The Case Study was co-produced by EBC and the ECG, with an officer of EBC responsible for monitoring and managing the project, while ECG delivered on the practical execution of the pilot project.
How does this case study support climate action?
Example Case Study was a pilot for a local climate adaptation scheme, with the intention to improve the community's resilience to climate change, specifically around flooding and damage to local community assets. Evidence from Example Body and Example Article suggested that these types of resilience schemes will be crucial to adaptation to climate change.
How has the Local Authority monitored the success or failure of this case study?
Example Borough Council evaluated the success of the project against four criteria, which were set in collaboration with Example Community Group: criterion 1, criterion 2, criterion 3, and criterion 4. On these criteria, the project was seen as a success. EBC also observed a 5% increase in criterion 5, which is another objective of EBC's Climate Action Plan. EBC was able to attribute this benefit to the Case Study as a co-benefit of this approach.
How will the Local Authority monitor long-term success or failure of this case study going forwards?
Example Borough Council will continue to evaluate the project against the four criteria above as the project is expanded to other parts of the Borough. Example Community Group will also feed into evaluations under the four success criteria. EBC will also review the project as part of its Climate Action Plan, which is updated every 2 years.
What did the Local Authority learn from the case study’s implementation?
Despite initial optimism, Example Borough Council learned that rollout of the project was more complicated than expected for two reasons: reason 1 and reason 2. For these reasons, the success of the project relied on community buy-in, especially from Example Demographic. EBC overcame these early challenges by co-producing the project with a local community group, ECG, and would recommend that other Local Authorities also pursue this co-production approach from an early stage when attempting to implement this type of adaptation case study.
Where can others find out more or ask questions about this case study?
Here is a link to the project on Example Borough Council's website. Here is a link to Example Community Group's community Facebook page for the project. Here is a link to EBC's Climate Action Plan. Here are two email addresses: for the EBC Officer responsible for managing the project, and for a representative of ECG responsible for supporting the project's delivery.
This case study is part of the Institution of Environmental Sciences' Transformative Action Local Knowledge Board: TALK Board. For more case studies of evidence-based climate action at local scales, you can see the full TALK Board here. Case studies are updated quarterly, so keep checking back for more updates, and let us know if you have a good case study of effective climate action. You can also subscribe to the TALK Board social media accounts for regular updates on good practice and case studies.
