Cwm Taf Morgannwg climate change risk assessment launched to help protect communities and businesses
The Cwm Taf Morgannwg Public Services Board (PSB) today unveils a major new Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA), marking a collaborative milestone involving public bodies, businesses and community groups.
Commissioned in early 2024, the independent CCRA identifies 11 priority climate risks with the potential to profoundly impact local infrastructure, public services, and daily life across Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil, and Rhondda Cynon Taf.
The report highlights:
- Rising flood threats: Increased frequency and intensity of flooding pose heightened risks to transport links, communities, and health services.
- Strained infrastructure: Roads, railways, bridges, utilities, energy, water, food, and ICT systems all face vulnerabilities in the wake of more extreme weather.
- Emerging heat and wildfire risks: Hotter, drier summers raise the likelihood of wildfires and heat-related emergencies.
- Health and social care pressures: Climate variability may disrupt health and social care delivery, complicating emergency responses.
- Institutional readiness: Urgent need to embed climate risk into business planning and policies.
The PSB urges businesses, community organisations, and public bodies to use the report’s findings as a foundation for:
- Integrating climate risk into operational and strategic planning.
- Strengthening collaboration with partners, funders, and policymakers.
- Building resilient communities and services through shared action.
The full report is available on the Cwm Taf Morgannwg PSB website.
PSB partners and wider stakeholders will use this resource to create an integrated approach to build and improve resilience of communities and services.
The task groups have been created to focus on the following priorities:
- Climate resilient communities – working with communities to improve resilience to future climate through information, practical support and continued learning about the impact from severe weather and changing climate.
- Infrastructure pinch points – identifying where our co-located, interdependent infrastructure such as power, water, communications, transport are and understanding the risk from the future climate and how we can better manage that together.
- Post-industrial landscape – identifying where post-industrial landscape, including infrastructure, tips and landscape are most at risk from our changing climate and how we can work together to manage that risk better in future.
The group will gather more detailed evidence and identify opportunities for collective action to ensure that communities, infrastructure, and services are more resilient to the changing climate. They will report regularly to the PSB, and the annual report will outline the progress being made.
Paul Mee, Chair of the Cwm Taf Morgannwg PSB, said:
“Climate change is here and it’s already reshaping our communities. By working together, we can tackle increased floods, heatwaves, and service disruptions. The report shows where our efforts need to go next.
“We recognise the challenge that our changing climate brings and that the need to collaborate through the PSB and work with our communities to be able to respond to those challenges.
“The CTM region has an extraordinary legacy with beautiful landscapes and strong communities that are shaped by our post‑industrial history. We have the great assets to build a resilient, thriving future for generations to come
“Together, we will join our forces and bring together the skills and expertise and engage with senior leadership across the Region.”
Businesses and community groups who wish to participate and access guidance on strengthening and implementing resilience strategies can find more information on the Cwm Taf Morgannwg PSB website.