The UK Government has launched the Climate Adaptation Research & Innovation Framework (CARIF) — a strategic plan to prepare society for the unavoidable impacts of climate change.
It’s a major shift in how we think about resilience: not as one-size-fits-all, but as something tailored to places, people, and systems.
This is big news for the West Midlands, where local projects like WM-Net Zero are already tackling climate risks in health, housing, and infrastructure — often with limited resources and data.
CARIF helps connect local action to national support, especially for communities most exposed to climate risks.
What Is CARIF?
CARIF is a roadmap to help the UK prepare for unavoidable climate impacts — such as:
- Extreme heat and heatwaves
- Flooding and storm damage
- Risks to food, water, infrastructure, health and nature
It recognises that climate change is not just an environmental issue, but a system-wide challenge that affects health, housing, business, heritage, and governance.
The 11 Sectors Prioritised in the Framework
These are the 11 key sectors where climate change is already creating risks — and where innovation and policy must work together to adapt:
- Nature
- Working Land and Seas
- Food Security
- Water Supply
- Energy
- Telecommunications and ICT
- Transport
- Towns and Cities & Community Preparedness/Response
- Buildings
- Health
- Business and Finance
Each sector presents specific vulnerabilities to extreme weather, and each needs tailored, place-based interventions.
The Role of Data and Place-Based Adaptation
A central feature of the framework is the need for better local data and evidence to inform action. This includes:
“Improved spatial mapping of climate risk is important to understand how climate change might exacerbate existing economic, health and social inequalities, and a place-based approach can ensure actions are better tailored to the local context.”
— CARIF, 2025.
In practice, this means:
- Analysing local exposure to heat, flood and pollution
- Identifying vulnerable groups and neighbourhoods
- Understanding how communities interact with and value nature
- Creating ‘living labs’ and testbeds to pilot local solutions
The framework also highlights the importance of co-creation and inclusive engagement, to ensure adaptation strategies reflect local knowledge, needs, and inequalities.
What WM-Net Zero Can Do
The work of WM-Net Zero — involving communities, researchers, practitioners and public sector partners — is exactly the kind of approach CARIF supports.
This includes:
- Community-led mapping of environmental and health risks
- Supporting equitable climate communications and public involvement
- Advocating for adaptation funding that reflects local need
CARIF offers a strategic opportunity for West Midlands organisations to align their work with national goals, access new partnerships, and shape future innovation.
Final Thought: A Framework to Empower the Regions
CARIF gives the UK a national plan to target climate adaptation where it’s needed most — but its success depends on action in places like the West Midlands.
With the right support, local knowledge, and inclusive innovation, projects like WM-Net Zero can help ensure the region is not just net-zero, but climate resilient — for everyone.
Read the full framework:
UK Climate Adaptation Research and Innovation Framework