The impacts of climate change are already being felt, both globally and locally. Across the UK, summers are becoming hotter and drier, and winters are becoming warmer and wetter. This is making dense urban areas such as London more susceptible to heatwaves, flooding, and drought.
At the same time, climate impacts happening around the country and the world could affect us here, for example on food security and cost of living.
These changes affect our health, homes, local services, and the natural spaces we rely on for our wellbeing. Preparing for these impacts, as well continuing to reduce our carbon emissions, is essential to keeping Brent’s residents, businesses and neighbourhoods safe now and in the future.
What is climate adaptation and resilience?
Climate adaptation means preparing for the effects of climate change, many of which are now unavoidable. Adaptation aims to reduce exposure and vulnerability to harmful climate impacts, protecting people and the systems we rely on, such as homes, services, businesses, and nature.
Climate resilience refers to our ability to cope with, respond to, and recover from harmful climate-related disruptions and long-term pressures, while continuing to function and thrive. Resilience is often the result of effective adaptation.
Tackling the climate emergency requires a joined-up approach that both reduces emissions (mitigation) and strengthens our ability to cope with a changing climate (adaptation and resilience).
Brent’s Climate Adaptation and Resilience Framework (CARF)
In December 2025, the Council approved its new Climate Adaptation and Resilience Framework (CARF). The Framework sets out:
- The key climate hazards facing Brent, including flooding from intense rainfall, extreme heat during summer, and periods of drought and water scarcity.
- How these risks and hazards may affect people, buildings, infrastructure, services and local environments.
- The Council’s approach to preparing for and responding to these impacts, including actions for 2025–26 and how we will work across services and with local partners to improve resilience.
The CARF builds on Brent’s earlier climate adaptation and resilience plan and incorporates new data, updated priorities, and a stronger focus on delivery. It also forms part of our wider work to respond to the climate and ecological emergency, complementing strategies on green infrastructure, flood risk, trees, health and planning.
View full decision details and supporting documents.