Climate Resilience

Building Resilience Where It Matters: Climate Adaptation for Schools and Students
Bekki Parrish, Associate Climate Resilience, Mott MacDonald

Mott MacDonald is proud to have partnered with Sheffield City Council on Built for Change, a programme that so far has helped 12 schools strengthen their resilience to climate impacts. Following record temperatures of nearly 40°C in 2022, the project has supported schools facing urgent risks from overheating as well as other climate hazards such as flooding. The collaboration brought together experts in engineering, nature‑based solutions, and planning to develop tailored and practicable Climate Adaptation Plans for each site. As a result, all twelve schools secured funding to deliver their priority actions, creating safer, healthier environments for pupils and staff.

From Plans to Delivery: Lessons from London on Climate Adaptation in Schools
Manon Dangelser, Senior Climate Resilience Consultant, Arup
Schools across the UK face increasing climate risks including overheating, flooding and water scarcity. While a growing number of adaptation and sustainability plans have been developed in recent years, there is limited understanding of how these translate into delivery across school estates.This presentation shares lessons emerging from climate adaptation work across London, drawing on follow-up engagement with climate officers from London boroughs after the development of Climate Adaptation Plans for schools in 2023. The session will explore what has happened since those plans were produced, which adaptation measures are being implemented, the barriers schools face, and the role local authorities can play in supporting delivery. Insights from across London will highlight emerging good practice, funding and governance challenges, and opportunities to better integrate adaptation into estates and facilities management to strengthen resilience across the education estate.