workshops

During this study a number of workshops were held to allow broad engagement with regional and local professionals working in and across the sectors addressed by the study.

The first phase of workshops addressed the five core sectors (themes) within the study. Held in Wakefield in October 2008 they drew wide participation from across the region and enabled far-ranging discussions about current and future impacts of climate change, potential responses (adaptation measures) and responsibilities. Outputs from these workshops were used to further inform the study at that stage. Details of the workshops are below. Distilled but unprocessed outputs, incorporating any additional comments submitted post-event, are accessible by clicking the workshop title.

Workshop sector	Date	Location
Infrastructure and Utilities	14 October 2008	The Orangery, Wakefield
Business and the Economy	16 October 2008	The Orangery, Wakefield
Health and Welfare	21 October 2008	Treacey Hall, Wakefield Cathedral
Public and Voluntary Services	22 October 2008	Treacey Hall, Wakefield Cathedral
Biodiversity	30 October 2008	Treacey Hall, Wakefield Cathedral

There are significant interactions within and between sectors. Impacts in one area can indirectly affect others and although identified this was not formally addressed in the earlier workshops. Following the conclusion of the sectoral element of the study, and building on areas identified through it, a larger cross-sectoral workshop was held at the Leeds Hilton on January 21 2009. This whole day event attracted about 100 delegates who developed earlier discussions and investigated interactions between both impacts and adaptation measures to ensure that tackling one does not inadvertently create negative impacts elsewhere (a ‘spillover effect’).

Consideration of these knock-on impacts enabled an initial list of adaptations to be reviewed to ensure they deliver broad benefits and reduce/exclude negative effects. It also allowed some preliminary exercises to prioritise cross-sectoral regional activity. This could provide the basis of an action plan, progressed through existing and developing regional structures. A distilled prioritisation list is available below.

Following this activity small groups of delegates were challenged as to why each of the top ten actions has not already been fully addressed. This was to determine those factors perceived to stand in the way of appropriate action (blockers). Attendees were also encouraged to propose activities which might address or circumvent these blockages (enablers). Outputs from this session are also available below.

• Output from the prioritisation exercise
• Organisational and coordination ‘blockers’, and potential enablers for successful adaptation.

We would like to thank all those who took part in all of the workshops for their valuable contributions. A list of all organisations who provided input to the various stages of the study is given in the Acknowledgements section.

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