SlideShare a Scribd company logo
1 of 33
Download to read offline
11
An evaluation of current Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk
Management in Wales – Opportunities and challenges for
the pursuit of well-being
Wales Marine Evidence Conference, Swansea
September 2019
Emma McKinley, Meghan Alexander(Research Lead),& Rhoda Ballinger
Cardiff University and University of East Anglia
2
@Coastwellbeing
CoastWEB - project overview
3
Project overview
CoastWEB - Valuing the contribution
which COASTal habitats make to
human health and WEllBeing, with a
focus on the alleviation of natural
hazards
Governance opportunities and
challenges for aligning Flood & Coastal
Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) with
the well-being agenda, and other
relevant policy sectors.
4
Project overview
• National scale & local
scale analysis
• X2 in-depth case studies
– Mawddach and Taf
estuaries
• Additional estuaries –
Loughor, Neath, Dee
and Glaslyn
• Key focus on saltmarsh
environments
• A mixed methods
approach …
@Coastwellbeing
Taf
(Carms)
Mawddach
(Gwynedd)
5© Merryn Thomas
An evaluation of current FCERM in Wales
6
Well-being
Climate change
Environment &
conservation
Economic
development
Water
Marine management &
planning
Spatial planning
Agriculture
Historic
environment
Civil contingencies
Health
Key policy sectors
overlapping FCERM
Natural resource
management
7
Threats to well-being
245,000 properties are at
risk of flooding from rivers,
the sea and surface water
Ca. 400 properties
at risk of coastal
erosion
Flooding
attributed to
significant
health impacts
60% of the
population live in
coastal areas
Risk to critical
infrastructure
and transport
Sea level rise -
28cm and 62cm
for Cardiff under a
medium emissions
by 2080
Economic cost of
flooding and impact
to key sectors (e.g.
tourism)
Rainfall increases for
winter / decreases for
summer
Rising
temperatures
75% coastline
designated for
environmental
importance
Heritage
Coastal squeeze
88
Research questions
1. What are the synergies & conflicts between governance of FCERM
and governance of well-being?
2. How can we better align and coordinate FCERM and wellbeing
agendas through multi-level governance?
3. What are the main drivers for change and stability in FCERM
governance? Where are the barriers / opportunities for implementing
change?
Objective - To characterise & evaluate current governance in terms of its
impact on well-being
99
Methods
▪ In-depth policy and legal
analysis – what’s (not) said
and how
▪ Evidence repository
▪ Stakeholder interviews x40
▪ Wide range of stakeholders
working at national to local
scales within FCERM and
allied policy sectors
▪ Stakeholder workshop
10
Stakeholder interviews
11
Characterising governance via the Policy
Arrangements Approach (PAA+)
Actors Rules Resources Discourses
Public, private &
voluntary sectors, and
civil society.
Formal and informal
legislation, policies,
guidance and codes of
practice etc.
Knowledge, financial,
personnel and
technical resources
needed/available for
FCERM.
Ideas and concepts which
impact and or drive flood
risk governance (e.g.
community resilience).
TransferCoordination & integration Cooperation & collaboration
12
Evaluation framework
Process
▪ Embedding core principles of
Ecosystem-Based Management
▪ Integration
▪ Coordination
▪ Collaboration & cooperation
▪ Stakeholder participation
▪ Scale
▪ Evidence-based decision-making
▪ Learning
Outcome & impact
▪ Societal resilience
▪ Ecosystem resilience
▪ Economic resilience
▪ Well-being
▪ Uncertainty & flexibility
▪ Institutional capacity
▪ Valuation methods
▪ Resource efficiency
▪ Transparency & access to
information
▪ Accountability
▪ Social equity, fairness &
justice
20 core criteria
Benchmarks to determine the extent to which these criteria are
present
13
Strengths & weaknesses in current FCERM Wales
Research findings so far
1414
Strengths in governance – A summary
▪ Intuitive ‘fit’ between FCERM and well-being goals (especially resilience)
▪ Draft WNMP includes explicit reference to coastal adaptation and to the SMPs – and
discursive desire to do more to better link across the land-sea interface
▪ Discursive strength and desire to do things differently, key role for ‘policy champions’
and growing expectation towards delivery of multi-beneficial initiatives;
▪ Positive views towards the Well-being Act – seen as world-leading, ambitious, providing
an opportunity to engage range of stakeholders and potential sources of funding;
▪ Risk-based funding programmes:
▪ 4 year capital budget for FCERM programme / 3 year for CRMP
▪ The ability to demonstrate wider benefits is strongly encouraged
▪ NFM must be short-listed
1515
Strengths in governance – A summary
• Policy alignment between FCERM and Natural Resources Policy – reducing the risk of
flooding is recognised as a key challenge for SMNR. Better coastal habitat flood
management a priority area for action. Aligned priorities towards nature-based
approaches.
• Biodiversity and resilience of ecosystems duty included within Environment (Wales) Act
2016
• Area statements have the potential to bridge activities across stakeholder groups – fuzzy
boundaries between land and sea.
• Improvements to risk assessment and future monitoring - Flood Risk Assessment Wales
(FRAW) and Wales Coastal Monitoring Centre
• “Brexit” as a driver and opportunity to bridge agriculture and FCERM agendas –
“Sustainable farming and our Land” and proposed reforms to payments for ecosystem
services and sustainable land management
1616
Weaknesses & challenges
• Criticisms of CRMP – 3 years and available to Local Authorities only. Is it really
supporting adaptation?
• Difficulties funding innovative proposals (e.g. Fairbourne Community Interest
Company) or works involving decommissioning of assets (e.g. Newgale)
• Risk-averse and resource-constrained public sector constrains proactive
adaptation;
• Complexity - Managed realignment / Natural Habitat Creation Plan needs to
navigate multiple land owners + lack of awareness of SMPs
1717
Weaknesses & challenges
• Who should lead? Local vs national – issues of reputational risk. Calls for a united front in
initiating ‘difficult conversations’ about managed realignment.
• Legislative rigidity – e.g. Duty to maintain Public Rights of Way incompatible with dynamic
coastlines
• Opportunities to collaborate are often constrained by budget silos, variable planning cycles
and priorities/remits across actors (e.g. Network Rail 5yr funding cycles for asset
maintenance, not enhancement).
• Resources – “doing more for less” and/or “doing things differently”
“…lack of resources means that nobody can actually fully commit to that
collaboration, you know the day to day job takes precedent so quite a lot of
opportunities are missed because nobody has got time or the resources to do
more work in these areas” [WLGA]
1818
Weaknesses & challenges
▪ “No one organisation is fully embracing the act” (Future
Generations Commissioner, 2018)
▪ Majority of public bodies are stuck in their core
business
▪ Raising FCERM up the well-being agenda – ad hoc
consideration across PSBs
▪ The ‘teeth’ of the Well-being Act is being called into
question – what are the implications of this?
“the 2015 act does more than prescribe a high-level
target duty which is deliberately vague, general and
aspirational”
“…there’s this big gap between policy and front-line
delivery which is what we’re experiencing with the
wellbeing act” [Gwynedd Council]
19
Preliminary recommendations
20
Preliminary recommendations
▪ There needs to be a better balance between decarbonisation and adaptation
agendas – given climate inertia, adaptation is essential TODAY.
▪ A united front is required between Welsh Government, Risk Management
Authorities and elected officials in order to deliver proactive (not reactive)
coastal adaptation.
▪ Long-term commitment to funding – for revenue activities especially
▪ There is a need to encourage and support coastal adaptation schemes - clearer
guidance on what adaptative schemes may look like and what they might
involve should be provided.
▪ There is a need to create space for innovation (“Field of Dreams”) and well-
managed risk taking – this will require ambition, access to cross-sectoral funding
and other barriers to collaboration to be addressed.
▪ Adaptation requires a degree of legal flexibility – this will require changes in
current highways legislation and duties pertaining to Public Rights of Way.
Longterm
Prevention
21
Preliminary recommendations
▪ Fragmentation in governance and policy silos remain – overcoming these will
require greater alignment of planning cycles and priorities
▪ Multi-beneficial approaches require access to cross-department, cross-sectoral
government funding – mechanisms to enable this are required.
▪ ‘Funding partnerships’ should be promoted at the sub-national scale. This will
require better communication of FCERM activities/’wish lists’ to those not
traditionally involved in FCERM. PSBs could be a useful bridging mechanism for
this.
▪ Mechanisms are required to incentivise and promote private-sector investment
in FCERM where appropriate.
▪ FCERM (and climate change adaptation more widely) needs to be consistently
embedded within PSB – NRW can play a central role as statutory members.
▪ Joined-up working requires better understanding of ‘the other’ – secondments
and joint-placements could facilitate this.
Collaboration
Integration
2222
Preliminary recommendations
• There is a need for open and transparent communication with
communities living in areas subject to future managed realignment or no
active intervention, including the implications of these policies. This must
happen TODAY.
• Meaningful engagement not consultation –need to diversify the
approach to community engagement using creative and imaginative
engagement to ensure that the public are fully aware of the future risks
and can become actively involved in ‘adaptive place-making’.
• Resources and capacity building for community engagement are
required – e.g. training, developing new skillsets
Involvement
2323
Next steps
▪ Project report to be published online
by end of September + Policy brief
Questions and Thank you
M.Alexander@uea.ac.uk
mckinleye1@Cardiff.a.c.uk
Useful extra slides
25
Prioritising recommendations
1. Better communication and awareness raising
across all actors (WG, NRW, LAs, PSBs etc.)
2. Develop ‘funding partnerships’ to develop
plans with multiple benefits (across
government, third sector, private – not
community input)
3. Establish relationships with communities
before telling the news (funding implication:
this has to happen first)
4. Incentivising private sector investment in
FCERM (including utility and infrastructure)
5. Longer-term commitment on revenue and
capital funding supported by a long-term
‘wish-list’
6. Ensure future monitoring collects evidence to
feed into long-term planning
Sub-national
National
Local
▪ Welsh Government - Overall responsibility for FCERM policy in Wales. Establishes strategic direction
(outlined in the National FCERM Strategy for Wales) and programme of investment.
▪ NRW - Strategic oversight role, including a Wales-wide understanding of all flood and coastal erosion risks.
▪ Flood & Coastal Erosion Committee – advises Welsh Ministers on strategic matters of FCERM and provide
independent scrutiny of Section 18 report.
▪ Wales Flood Group - representatives from key agencies involved with flood warning, response and recovery
activities across Wales to consider flood resilience matters.
▪ Wales Coastal Group Forum - Representatives collective interest of coastal groups, supports best practice and
acts as a conduit to WG. Includes chairs from each coastal group, WG, NRW, WLGA, National Trust and Network
Rail.
▪ Welsh Government - as a Highway Authority, responsible for highways drainage on trunk roads.
▪ NRW – Operational responsibility for flooding from main rivers, reservoirs and the sea. Also a Coastal Erosion
Risk Management Authority with powers to perform coastal protection works. Responsible for managing
Internal Drainage Districts (x12).
▪ Regional Flood Groups (x3) - Comprised of LLFAs, NRW, Welsh Water and WLGA. Forum for sharing expertise
and resources. Conduit to WG.
▪ Coastal Groups (x4) - Non-statutory group responsible for producing, implementing and monitoring Shoreline
Management Plan (SMP2).
▪ Local Resilience Forum (LRF) (x4) – a collective of Category 1 and 2 Responders, with responsibilities for
planning and preparing for emergencies, including maintaining multi-agency emergency plans.
▪ Local Authorities – Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs) are responsible for flooding from ordinary
watercourses, surface water and groundwater. Local Authorities also act as a highway authority, with
responsibilities for highway drainage. Coastal Local Authorities are also designated as Coastal Erosion Risk
Management Authority, with powers to perform coastal protection works.
▪ Water & sewerage companies - Responsibilities for flooding from water and sewerage systems.
27
Insights from the stakeholder workshop
10th July2019
28
Strengths Weaknesses
• Wellbeing of Future Generations Act – world
leading + clear understanding of roles and
responsibilities + something to potentially hold
decision-makers to account. + comprehensive
• Schedule 3 of Flood and Water Management
Act + SABs for SUDS
• NRW Getting things done
• Growing interest in nature-based solutions and
delivering catchment-based approaches
• Wales is small!
• Good working relationships
• Ecosystem services and catchment-based
approaches advocated
• Data and evidence improvements
• Examples of success for multi-beneficial
schemes (e.g. Rhyl)
• Political willingness
• Public perceptions of hard engineering as more effective
• Need to involve communities much sooner
• Defences/assets in private ownership + conflicting priorities or
planning cycles
• Uncertainty around climate change making it difficult to act
• FCERM governance reactive rather than proactive, more urgent
action needed for CC adaptation
• Soft vs. hard engineering – difficult to know what is effective when
evaluating schemes (different timelines to measure success)
• Some stakeholder groups resistant to change
• Long-term funding
• Government prioritises other concerns e.g. education and public
health
• Engaging non-coastal LAs to be involved in CaBA
• Cross-border coordination (SMPs)
• Loss of expertise within local authorities
• Rigid legislation
Strengths & weaknesses
29
The Well-Being Goals and FCERM
1. To what extent do
the well-being goals
‘fit’ to FCERM
objectives?
2. To what extent is
FCERM already
addressing the well-
being goals?
30
TowhatextenttoFCERMobjectives‘fit’withthe
well-beinggoals?
To what extent are well-being goals currently addressed?
Prosperity Resilience Health Equal
Cohesive communities Culture & language Global responsibility
31
The Well-Being Goals and FCERM
• FCERM is doing best in relation to global responsibility, equality, cohesive communities and resilience
• Perception that culture/language is the poorest ‘fit’ to FCERM
32
The Well-Being Goals and FCERM
• Taking a binary view on how well the WB goals are addressed in current FCERM …
3333
Key problems

More Related Content

Recently uploaded

Item 3. Developing EPOC’s PWB related to mitigation for 2025-26
Item 3. Developing EPOC’s PWB related to mitigation for 2025-26Item 3. Developing EPOC’s PWB related to mitigation for 2025-26
Item 3. Developing EPOC’s PWB related to mitigation for 2025-26OECD Environment
 
Item 7. Discussion on PWB 2023-24 work related to adaptation
Item 7. Discussion on PWB 2023-24 work related to adaptationItem 7. Discussion on PWB 2023-24 work related to adaptation
Item 7. Discussion on PWB 2023-24 work related to adaptationOECD Environment
 
Ecosystem and their types ||Environmental Science||.pdf
Ecosystem and their types ||Environmental Science||.pdfEcosystem and their types ||Environmental Science||.pdf
Ecosystem and their types ||Environmental Science||.pdfMUKUL GAUR
 
Personal Protective Equipment OSHA Regulations
Personal Protective Equipment OSHA RegulationsPersonal Protective Equipment OSHA Regulations
Personal Protective Equipment OSHA RegulationsATI Construction Products
 
EC-funded Projects and CAPs Webinar slides
EC-funded Projects and CAPs Webinar slidesEC-funded Projects and CAPs Webinar slides
EC-funded Projects and CAPs Webinar slidesweADAPT
 
Save the Environment - Environ Craft
Save the Environment -     Environ CraftSave the Environment -     Environ Craft
Save the Environment - Environ Craftenvironcraft
 
I MSc II Semester - Characteristics of a population.ppt
I MSc II Semester - Characteristics of a population.pptI MSc II Semester - Characteristics of a population.ppt
I MSc II Semester - Characteristics of a population.pptaigil2
 
Pathways to sustainable trade and system dynamic simulation
Pathways to sustainable trade and system dynamic simulationPathways to sustainable trade and system dynamic simulation
Pathways to sustainable trade and system dynamic simulationCIFOR-ICRAF
 
Exploring the snake evolution (wild's gravity).pdf
Exploring the snake evolution (wild's gravity).pdfExploring the snake evolution (wild's gravity).pdf
Exploring the snake evolution (wild's gravity).pdfdrsk203
 
The Dark Cloud of Global Air Pollution - Epcon
The Dark Cloud of Global Air Pollution - EpconThe Dark Cloud of Global Air Pollution - Epcon
The Dark Cloud of Global Air Pollution - EpconEpconLP
 
Green Giraffe Advisory: Offshore wind market today.pdf
Green Giraffe Advisory: Offshore wind market today.pdfGreen Giraffe Advisory: Offshore wind market today.pdf
Green Giraffe Advisory: Offshore wind market today.pdfOECD Environment
 
Item 6. Revision and consolidation of energy-related legal instruments
Item 6. Revision and consolidation of energy-related legal instrumentsItem 6. Revision and consolidation of energy-related legal instruments
Item 6. Revision and consolidation of energy-related legal instrumentsOECD Environment
 
Green Horizons: Ecotourism Conference 2024 in Amsterdam
Green Horizons: Ecotourism Conference 2024 in AmsterdamGreen Horizons: Ecotourism Conference 2024 in Amsterdam
Green Horizons: Ecotourism Conference 2024 in AmsterdamDIGITALCONFEX
 
4th Earthquake Drill Narraative Report.docx
4th Earthquake Drill Narraative Report.docx4th Earthquake Drill Narraative Report.docx
4th Earthquake Drill Narraative Report.docxJeneroseBaldoza
 
PPT TLE 7 and 8 Q3 AGRI CROP QUIZ 2.pptx
PPT TLE 7 and 8  Q3 AGRI CROP QUIZ 2.pptxPPT TLE 7 and 8  Q3 AGRI CROP QUIZ 2.pptx
PPT TLE 7 and 8 Q3 AGRI CROP QUIZ 2.pptxCrislynBaados
 
Purva Tranquillity best living place in East Bangalore
Purva Tranquillity best living place in East BangalorePurva Tranquillity best living place in East Bangalore
Purva Tranquillity best living place in East BangaloreNikki Harris
 
How do TOPCon Solar Cells/Solar Panel Work?
How do TOPCon Solar Cells/Solar Panel Work?How do TOPCon Solar Cells/Solar Panel Work?
How do TOPCon Solar Cells/Solar Panel Work?Bluebird Solar Pvt. Ltd.
 
PBL Endangered and Vulnerable Species- Presentation.pptx
PBL Endangered and Vulnerable Species- Presentation.pptxPBL Endangered and Vulnerable Species- Presentation.pptx
PBL Endangered and Vulnerable Species- Presentation.pptxjabernethy
 
How Long Does It Take Jackfruit To Bear Fruit?
How Long Does It Take Jackfruit To Bear Fruit?How Long Does It Take Jackfruit To Bear Fruit?
How Long Does It Take Jackfruit To Bear Fruit?EvergladesFarm
 

Recently uploaded (20)

Item 3. Developing EPOC’s PWB related to mitigation for 2025-26
Item 3. Developing EPOC’s PWB related to mitigation for 2025-26Item 3. Developing EPOC’s PWB related to mitigation for 2025-26
Item 3. Developing EPOC’s PWB related to mitigation for 2025-26
 
International Day of Forests 2024
International Day of Forests 2024International Day of Forests 2024
International Day of Forests 2024
 
Item 7. Discussion on PWB 2023-24 work related to adaptation
Item 7. Discussion on PWB 2023-24 work related to adaptationItem 7. Discussion on PWB 2023-24 work related to adaptation
Item 7. Discussion on PWB 2023-24 work related to adaptation
 
Ecosystem and their types ||Environmental Science||.pdf
Ecosystem and their types ||Environmental Science||.pdfEcosystem and their types ||Environmental Science||.pdf
Ecosystem and their types ||Environmental Science||.pdf
 
Personal Protective Equipment OSHA Regulations
Personal Protective Equipment OSHA RegulationsPersonal Protective Equipment OSHA Regulations
Personal Protective Equipment OSHA Regulations
 
EC-funded Projects and CAPs Webinar slides
EC-funded Projects and CAPs Webinar slidesEC-funded Projects and CAPs Webinar slides
EC-funded Projects and CAPs Webinar slides
 
Save the Environment - Environ Craft
Save the Environment -     Environ CraftSave the Environment -     Environ Craft
Save the Environment - Environ Craft
 
I MSc II Semester - Characteristics of a population.ppt
I MSc II Semester - Characteristics of a population.pptI MSc II Semester - Characteristics of a population.ppt
I MSc II Semester - Characteristics of a population.ppt
 
Pathways to sustainable trade and system dynamic simulation
Pathways to sustainable trade and system dynamic simulationPathways to sustainable trade and system dynamic simulation
Pathways to sustainable trade and system dynamic simulation
 
Exploring the snake evolution (wild's gravity).pdf
Exploring the snake evolution (wild's gravity).pdfExploring the snake evolution (wild's gravity).pdf
Exploring the snake evolution (wild's gravity).pdf
 
The Dark Cloud of Global Air Pollution - Epcon
The Dark Cloud of Global Air Pollution - EpconThe Dark Cloud of Global Air Pollution - Epcon
The Dark Cloud of Global Air Pollution - Epcon
 
Green Giraffe Advisory: Offshore wind market today.pdf
Green Giraffe Advisory: Offshore wind market today.pdfGreen Giraffe Advisory: Offshore wind market today.pdf
Green Giraffe Advisory: Offshore wind market today.pdf
 
Item 6. Revision and consolidation of energy-related legal instruments
Item 6. Revision and consolidation of energy-related legal instrumentsItem 6. Revision and consolidation of energy-related legal instruments
Item 6. Revision and consolidation of energy-related legal instruments
 
Green Horizons: Ecotourism Conference 2024 in Amsterdam
Green Horizons: Ecotourism Conference 2024 in AmsterdamGreen Horizons: Ecotourism Conference 2024 in Amsterdam
Green Horizons: Ecotourism Conference 2024 in Amsterdam
 
4th Earthquake Drill Narraative Report.docx
4th Earthquake Drill Narraative Report.docx4th Earthquake Drill Narraative Report.docx
4th Earthquake Drill Narraative Report.docx
 
PPT TLE 7 and 8 Q3 AGRI CROP QUIZ 2.pptx
PPT TLE 7 and 8  Q3 AGRI CROP QUIZ 2.pptxPPT TLE 7 and 8  Q3 AGRI CROP QUIZ 2.pptx
PPT TLE 7 and 8 Q3 AGRI CROP QUIZ 2.pptx
 
Purva Tranquillity best living place in East Bangalore
Purva Tranquillity best living place in East BangalorePurva Tranquillity best living place in East Bangalore
Purva Tranquillity best living place in East Bangalore
 
How do TOPCon Solar Cells/Solar Panel Work?
How do TOPCon Solar Cells/Solar Panel Work?How do TOPCon Solar Cells/Solar Panel Work?
How do TOPCon Solar Cells/Solar Panel Work?
 
PBL Endangered and Vulnerable Species- Presentation.pptx
PBL Endangered and Vulnerable Species- Presentation.pptxPBL Endangered and Vulnerable Species- Presentation.pptx
PBL Endangered and Vulnerable Species- Presentation.pptx
 
How Long Does It Take Jackfruit To Bear Fruit?
How Long Does It Take Jackfruit To Bear Fruit?How Long Does It Take Jackfruit To Bear Fruit?
How Long Does It Take Jackfruit To Bear Fruit?
 

Mc kinley emma_day_3_session_8 governance_analysis_sept2019

  • 1. 11 An evaluation of current Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management in Wales – Opportunities and challenges for the pursuit of well-being Wales Marine Evidence Conference, Swansea September 2019 Emma McKinley, Meghan Alexander(Research Lead),& Rhoda Ballinger Cardiff University and University of East Anglia
  • 3. 3 Project overview CoastWEB - Valuing the contribution which COASTal habitats make to human health and WEllBeing, with a focus on the alleviation of natural hazards Governance opportunities and challenges for aligning Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) with the well-being agenda, and other relevant policy sectors.
  • 4. 4 Project overview • National scale & local scale analysis • X2 in-depth case studies – Mawddach and Taf estuaries • Additional estuaries – Loughor, Neath, Dee and Glaslyn • Key focus on saltmarsh environments • A mixed methods approach … @Coastwellbeing Taf (Carms) Mawddach (Gwynedd)
  • 5. 5© Merryn Thomas An evaluation of current FCERM in Wales
  • 6. 6 Well-being Climate change Environment & conservation Economic development Water Marine management & planning Spatial planning Agriculture Historic environment Civil contingencies Health Key policy sectors overlapping FCERM Natural resource management
  • 7. 7 Threats to well-being 245,000 properties are at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea and surface water Ca. 400 properties at risk of coastal erosion Flooding attributed to significant health impacts 60% of the population live in coastal areas Risk to critical infrastructure and transport Sea level rise - 28cm and 62cm for Cardiff under a medium emissions by 2080 Economic cost of flooding and impact to key sectors (e.g. tourism) Rainfall increases for winter / decreases for summer Rising temperatures 75% coastline designated for environmental importance Heritage Coastal squeeze
  • 8. 88 Research questions 1. What are the synergies & conflicts between governance of FCERM and governance of well-being? 2. How can we better align and coordinate FCERM and wellbeing agendas through multi-level governance? 3. What are the main drivers for change and stability in FCERM governance? Where are the barriers / opportunities for implementing change? Objective - To characterise & evaluate current governance in terms of its impact on well-being
  • 9. 99 Methods ▪ In-depth policy and legal analysis – what’s (not) said and how ▪ Evidence repository ▪ Stakeholder interviews x40 ▪ Wide range of stakeholders working at national to local scales within FCERM and allied policy sectors ▪ Stakeholder workshop
  • 11. 11 Characterising governance via the Policy Arrangements Approach (PAA+) Actors Rules Resources Discourses Public, private & voluntary sectors, and civil society. Formal and informal legislation, policies, guidance and codes of practice etc. Knowledge, financial, personnel and technical resources needed/available for FCERM. Ideas and concepts which impact and or drive flood risk governance (e.g. community resilience). TransferCoordination & integration Cooperation & collaboration
  • 12. 12 Evaluation framework Process ▪ Embedding core principles of Ecosystem-Based Management ▪ Integration ▪ Coordination ▪ Collaboration & cooperation ▪ Stakeholder participation ▪ Scale ▪ Evidence-based decision-making ▪ Learning Outcome & impact ▪ Societal resilience ▪ Ecosystem resilience ▪ Economic resilience ▪ Well-being ▪ Uncertainty & flexibility ▪ Institutional capacity ▪ Valuation methods ▪ Resource efficiency ▪ Transparency & access to information ▪ Accountability ▪ Social equity, fairness & justice 20 core criteria Benchmarks to determine the extent to which these criteria are present
  • 13. 13 Strengths & weaknesses in current FCERM Wales Research findings so far
  • 14. 1414 Strengths in governance – A summary ▪ Intuitive ‘fit’ between FCERM and well-being goals (especially resilience) ▪ Draft WNMP includes explicit reference to coastal adaptation and to the SMPs – and discursive desire to do more to better link across the land-sea interface ▪ Discursive strength and desire to do things differently, key role for ‘policy champions’ and growing expectation towards delivery of multi-beneficial initiatives; ▪ Positive views towards the Well-being Act – seen as world-leading, ambitious, providing an opportunity to engage range of stakeholders and potential sources of funding; ▪ Risk-based funding programmes: ▪ 4 year capital budget for FCERM programme / 3 year for CRMP ▪ The ability to demonstrate wider benefits is strongly encouraged ▪ NFM must be short-listed
  • 15. 1515 Strengths in governance – A summary • Policy alignment between FCERM and Natural Resources Policy – reducing the risk of flooding is recognised as a key challenge for SMNR. Better coastal habitat flood management a priority area for action. Aligned priorities towards nature-based approaches. • Biodiversity and resilience of ecosystems duty included within Environment (Wales) Act 2016 • Area statements have the potential to bridge activities across stakeholder groups – fuzzy boundaries between land and sea. • Improvements to risk assessment and future monitoring - Flood Risk Assessment Wales (FRAW) and Wales Coastal Monitoring Centre • “Brexit” as a driver and opportunity to bridge agriculture and FCERM agendas – “Sustainable farming and our Land” and proposed reforms to payments for ecosystem services and sustainable land management
  • 16. 1616 Weaknesses & challenges • Criticisms of CRMP – 3 years and available to Local Authorities only. Is it really supporting adaptation? • Difficulties funding innovative proposals (e.g. Fairbourne Community Interest Company) or works involving decommissioning of assets (e.g. Newgale) • Risk-averse and resource-constrained public sector constrains proactive adaptation; • Complexity - Managed realignment / Natural Habitat Creation Plan needs to navigate multiple land owners + lack of awareness of SMPs
  • 17. 1717 Weaknesses & challenges • Who should lead? Local vs national – issues of reputational risk. Calls for a united front in initiating ‘difficult conversations’ about managed realignment. • Legislative rigidity – e.g. Duty to maintain Public Rights of Way incompatible with dynamic coastlines • Opportunities to collaborate are often constrained by budget silos, variable planning cycles and priorities/remits across actors (e.g. Network Rail 5yr funding cycles for asset maintenance, not enhancement). • Resources – “doing more for less” and/or “doing things differently” “…lack of resources means that nobody can actually fully commit to that collaboration, you know the day to day job takes precedent so quite a lot of opportunities are missed because nobody has got time or the resources to do more work in these areas” [WLGA]
  • 18. 1818 Weaknesses & challenges ▪ “No one organisation is fully embracing the act” (Future Generations Commissioner, 2018) ▪ Majority of public bodies are stuck in their core business ▪ Raising FCERM up the well-being agenda – ad hoc consideration across PSBs ▪ The ‘teeth’ of the Well-being Act is being called into question – what are the implications of this? “the 2015 act does more than prescribe a high-level target duty which is deliberately vague, general and aspirational” “…there’s this big gap between policy and front-line delivery which is what we’re experiencing with the wellbeing act” [Gwynedd Council]
  • 20. 20 Preliminary recommendations ▪ There needs to be a better balance between decarbonisation and adaptation agendas – given climate inertia, adaptation is essential TODAY. ▪ A united front is required between Welsh Government, Risk Management Authorities and elected officials in order to deliver proactive (not reactive) coastal adaptation. ▪ Long-term commitment to funding – for revenue activities especially ▪ There is a need to encourage and support coastal adaptation schemes - clearer guidance on what adaptative schemes may look like and what they might involve should be provided. ▪ There is a need to create space for innovation (“Field of Dreams”) and well- managed risk taking – this will require ambition, access to cross-sectoral funding and other barriers to collaboration to be addressed. ▪ Adaptation requires a degree of legal flexibility – this will require changes in current highways legislation and duties pertaining to Public Rights of Way. Longterm Prevention
  • 21. 21 Preliminary recommendations ▪ Fragmentation in governance and policy silos remain – overcoming these will require greater alignment of planning cycles and priorities ▪ Multi-beneficial approaches require access to cross-department, cross-sectoral government funding – mechanisms to enable this are required. ▪ ‘Funding partnerships’ should be promoted at the sub-national scale. This will require better communication of FCERM activities/’wish lists’ to those not traditionally involved in FCERM. PSBs could be a useful bridging mechanism for this. ▪ Mechanisms are required to incentivise and promote private-sector investment in FCERM where appropriate. ▪ FCERM (and climate change adaptation more widely) needs to be consistently embedded within PSB – NRW can play a central role as statutory members. ▪ Joined-up working requires better understanding of ‘the other’ – secondments and joint-placements could facilitate this. Collaboration Integration
  • 22. 2222 Preliminary recommendations • There is a need for open and transparent communication with communities living in areas subject to future managed realignment or no active intervention, including the implications of these policies. This must happen TODAY. • Meaningful engagement not consultation –need to diversify the approach to community engagement using creative and imaginative engagement to ensure that the public are fully aware of the future risks and can become actively involved in ‘adaptive place-making’. • Resources and capacity building for community engagement are required – e.g. training, developing new skillsets Involvement
  • 23. 2323 Next steps ▪ Project report to be published online by end of September + Policy brief Questions and Thank you M.Alexander@uea.ac.uk mckinleye1@Cardiff.a.c.uk
  • 25. 25 Prioritising recommendations 1. Better communication and awareness raising across all actors (WG, NRW, LAs, PSBs etc.) 2. Develop ‘funding partnerships’ to develop plans with multiple benefits (across government, third sector, private – not community input) 3. Establish relationships with communities before telling the news (funding implication: this has to happen first) 4. Incentivising private sector investment in FCERM (including utility and infrastructure) 5. Longer-term commitment on revenue and capital funding supported by a long-term ‘wish-list’ 6. Ensure future monitoring collects evidence to feed into long-term planning
  • 26. Sub-national National Local ▪ Welsh Government - Overall responsibility for FCERM policy in Wales. Establishes strategic direction (outlined in the National FCERM Strategy for Wales) and programme of investment. ▪ NRW - Strategic oversight role, including a Wales-wide understanding of all flood and coastal erosion risks. ▪ Flood & Coastal Erosion Committee – advises Welsh Ministers on strategic matters of FCERM and provide independent scrutiny of Section 18 report. ▪ Wales Flood Group - representatives from key agencies involved with flood warning, response and recovery activities across Wales to consider flood resilience matters. ▪ Wales Coastal Group Forum - Representatives collective interest of coastal groups, supports best practice and acts as a conduit to WG. Includes chairs from each coastal group, WG, NRW, WLGA, National Trust and Network Rail. ▪ Welsh Government - as a Highway Authority, responsible for highways drainage on trunk roads. ▪ NRW – Operational responsibility for flooding from main rivers, reservoirs and the sea. Also a Coastal Erosion Risk Management Authority with powers to perform coastal protection works. Responsible for managing Internal Drainage Districts (x12). ▪ Regional Flood Groups (x3) - Comprised of LLFAs, NRW, Welsh Water and WLGA. Forum for sharing expertise and resources. Conduit to WG. ▪ Coastal Groups (x4) - Non-statutory group responsible for producing, implementing and monitoring Shoreline Management Plan (SMP2). ▪ Local Resilience Forum (LRF) (x4) – a collective of Category 1 and 2 Responders, with responsibilities for planning and preparing for emergencies, including maintaining multi-agency emergency plans. ▪ Local Authorities – Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs) are responsible for flooding from ordinary watercourses, surface water and groundwater. Local Authorities also act as a highway authority, with responsibilities for highway drainage. Coastal Local Authorities are also designated as Coastal Erosion Risk Management Authority, with powers to perform coastal protection works. ▪ Water & sewerage companies - Responsibilities for flooding from water and sewerage systems.
  • 27. 27 Insights from the stakeholder workshop 10th July2019
  • 28. 28 Strengths Weaknesses • Wellbeing of Future Generations Act – world leading + clear understanding of roles and responsibilities + something to potentially hold decision-makers to account. + comprehensive • Schedule 3 of Flood and Water Management Act + SABs for SUDS • NRW Getting things done • Growing interest in nature-based solutions and delivering catchment-based approaches • Wales is small! • Good working relationships • Ecosystem services and catchment-based approaches advocated • Data and evidence improvements • Examples of success for multi-beneficial schemes (e.g. Rhyl) • Political willingness • Public perceptions of hard engineering as more effective • Need to involve communities much sooner • Defences/assets in private ownership + conflicting priorities or planning cycles • Uncertainty around climate change making it difficult to act • FCERM governance reactive rather than proactive, more urgent action needed for CC adaptation • Soft vs. hard engineering – difficult to know what is effective when evaluating schemes (different timelines to measure success) • Some stakeholder groups resistant to change • Long-term funding • Government prioritises other concerns e.g. education and public health • Engaging non-coastal LAs to be involved in CaBA • Cross-border coordination (SMPs) • Loss of expertise within local authorities • Rigid legislation Strengths & weaknesses
  • 29. 29 The Well-Being Goals and FCERM 1. To what extent do the well-being goals ‘fit’ to FCERM objectives? 2. To what extent is FCERM already addressing the well- being goals?
  • 30. 30 TowhatextenttoFCERMobjectives‘fit’withthe well-beinggoals? To what extent are well-being goals currently addressed? Prosperity Resilience Health Equal Cohesive communities Culture & language Global responsibility
  • 31. 31 The Well-Being Goals and FCERM • FCERM is doing best in relation to global responsibility, equality, cohesive communities and resilience • Perception that culture/language is the poorest ‘fit’ to FCERM
  • 32. 32 The Well-Being Goals and FCERM • Taking a binary view on how well the WB goals are addressed in current FCERM …