Newcastle University Experts Appointed to Lead UK Climate Adaptation Strategy Amid Rising Environmental Challenges

(IN BRIEF) Newcastle University professors Hayley Fowler and Chris Evans, along with Dr. Marina Romanello, have been appointed to the UK’s Climate Change Committee’s Adaptation Committee. They will provide expertise on climate resilience as the UK faces rising climate risks, particularly in infrastructure and extreme weather adaptation. Professor Fowler, recognized for her work on climate impacts and water systems, emphasizes the urgent need for adaptation investments. Their roles on the committee aim to bridge gaps in current climate adaptation efforts and support strategic planning for climate resilience.

(PRESS RELEASE) NEWCASTLE, 4-Nov-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Newcastle University has announced the appointment of three new experts to the Adaptation Committee of the UK’s Climate Change Committee. Defra and the Devolved Governments selected Professor Hayley Fowler, Professor Chris Evans, and Dr. Marina Romanello to contribute their expertise in helping the UK prepare for the impacts of climate change. The Adaptation Committee provides crucial, independent guidance to the UK and devolved governments on climate resilience and adaptation strategies.

Professor Fowler, a specialist in climate change impacts at Newcastle University’s School of Engineering, will serve on the committee from February 2025 to January 2028. With her extensive background in the effects of extreme weather on infrastructure and hydrological systems, Professor Fowler emphasized the importance of adapting swiftly to climate change, especially in light of increasing extreme weather events and infrastructure vulnerabilities across Europe. “This is a crucial time for adaptation,” she stated, noting the importance of using investments in Net Zero to build resilience into the UK’s infrastructure and to support nature recovery efforts.

Professor Evans and Dr. Romanello’s appointments began on November 1, 2024, and will continue through October 2027. The newly appointed members join a multidisciplinary team that includes experts in climate science, environmental economics, public health, and business, all working to guide the UK’s adaptation efforts and close the gap between current climate risks and adaptation actions.

Professor Fowler brings a distinguished career in climate science, with notable achievements including pioneering research that connects climate modeling with practical applications for climate adaptation. Her academic contributions have been recognized through prestigious awards, such as the Philip Leverhulme Prize and a Royal Society Wolfson Research Fellowship.

The appointments adhere to the Ministerial Governance Code for Public Appointments, reinforcing a commitment to strategic climate adaptation at a time when climate resilience is increasingly critical for the UK’s infrastructure and communities.

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First published in this link of EuropaWIRE.