The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) commissioned CAG Consultants to develop a regional framework for measuring climate adaptation and resilience. As climate change increases the risks associated with flooding, heatwaves, drought and severe weather, WMCA needed a practical way to monitor adaptation progress across the region and demonstrate outcomes linked to future investment, policy development and devolved funding arrangements. The project aimed to identify a robust set of indicators that could track how effectively communities, infrastructure, businesses and the natural environment are adapting to a changing climate.

How we delivered the project

We began with a comprehensive review of national and international adaptation monitoring approaches, drawing on guidance from the Climate Change Committee, UK Government resilience frameworks and existing adaptation indicator programmes. We assessed a wide range of potential metrics covering the economy, public health, transport, infrastructure, the built environment and the natural environment.

Working closely with WMCA officers and regional stakeholders, we conducted interviews with key organisations, including representatives from infrastructure providers, public health bodies, regulators and local authorities. We also facilitated a multi-sector stakeholder workshop to review, prioritise and refine potential indicators, helping to build consensus on what a "well-adapted" West Midlands should look like and how progress towards that vision should be measured.

The project resulted in the development of a climate adaptation monitoring framework containing 14 priority indicators. These indicators were selected based on their relevance to regional priorities, data availability, practical applicability and alignment with emerging national adaptation reporting approaches. Alongside the indicators, we developed baseline datasets, identified data sources and reporting responsibilities, and provided recommendations for future monitoring and governance.

Alongside the indicator framework, we developed a prototype Power BI dashboard to demonstrate how adaptation data could be brought together, visualised and reported in a consistent way. The dashboard integrated the proposed indicators into a user-friendly interface, enabling users to explore trends, compare themes and communicate progress on climate adaptation across the region. The prototype helped test the practical application of the framework and illustrated how monitoring could support future decision-making and reporting processes.

Objectives achieved

The project provided WMCA with its first region-wide framework for monitoring climate adaptation outcomes. The final indicator set covers a broad range of adaptation themes, including flood resilience, overheating, public health impacts, transport network resilience, water security, biodiversity and business preparedness. The framework establishes a consistent evidence base for understanding climate risks and tracking adaptation progress across the West Midlands.

To demonstrate how the data could be used in practice, CAG also developed a Power BI dashboard that brings together adaptation indicators into a clear and accessible monitoring tool, supporting future reporting, strategic planning and performance review.

For further information, please contact Derek Morgan at dm@cagconsult.co.uk.