Throughout 2025, our Climate Change Coordinator, Clare Downing, has been working with National Landscapes across England, using her extensive expertise in climate change mitigation and adaptation to equip teams with the knowledge they need to confront the growing threat of a changing climate.

Funded by the Protected Landscapes Partnership, Clare’s role - mirrored in National Parks by colleague Chris Fairbrother - has become central to how National Landscapes understand, prepare for, and deliver their climate change planning. 

The third National Adaptation Programme (NAP3) and Protected Landscapes Targets and Outcomes Framework (PLTOF) require all of England’s protected landscapes to have Climate Change Adaption plans by 2028 and Clare’s work is integral to delivering this.
Throughout the year, Clare has supported teams to assess their risks from climate change and identify practical solutions to reduce these risks. For example, planting trees near rivers not only provides adaptation for hot summers by creating shade, but it also has the added benefit (or co-benefit) of absorbing emissions so also contributing to Net Zero. The potential co-benefits extend beyond climate (adaptation and emissions reduction) to nature recovery, air pollution, water quality and the economy. Her work has included developing common tools, shared frameworks, and summarising the latest research ensuring that every team, regardless of size or resource, has access to high-quality guidance.

A total of 98 colleagues have attended Clare’s training programme, across seven online sessions (eight hours split into three modules). The programme has been a major success, shaping and deepening colleagues’ understanding of climate science, emissions, climate justice, co-benefits and how to communicate with others. Interactive sessions have explored these topics so that colleagues can embed climate planning into their everyday work and long-term Management Plans.
 

Backed by the Carbon Literacy Organisation, Clare developed a bespoke Carbon Literacy programme, enabling staff to understand their own personal and organisational impact and empowering them with communication and engagement tips to use their spheres of influence to work collectively towards systemic societal change.

Since July, this work has had a measurable, positive impact on teams throughout England’s National Landscapes.  A survey conducted at the start of the training showed that on average around 43% of participants had either ‘some’ or a ‘good’ understanding of climate change and carbon literacy. After the programme 93% said that they thought that their knowledge was now ‘good’.

Early feedback highlights just how valuable this support has been. Jim Hardcastle, from Mendip Hills National Landscape, shared how transformational the training has been for his team. He said: “The Carbon Literacy training has helped the Mendip Hills National Landscape team in a series of ways, what really helped was three of us attending, meaning conversations within the team came from three different perspectives around our work.

On a broader note, it's given us confidence to start the Climate Change Adaptation Plan from a more informed position. It's provided a more focussed filter for deciding on projects, we've actually stopped one project entirely as the emissions from it were out of proportion with the benefits in other areas. Simple actions have been taken in the team as well. There are no bins in the office now, everything gets recycled or taken home. I'd thoroughly recommend the course, great content that was well delivered.”

While a few of the larger National Landscapes have dedicated climate specialists, most do not have the resources to fund these roles. Clare’s ability to support 38 National Landscapes ensures that even the smallest designations can meaningfully contribute to national climate goals. The ripple effects of this work reach far beyond individual places. With National Landscapes covering 14% of England, enhancing their resilience strengthens climate action across the entire country.

Clare said: “I’m so pleased that this training is giving the landscape teams the knowledge they need to make a difference on the ground. If they can consider climate risks and emissions in every aspect of the work that they do going forward and share this knowledge with their partners, this will really make a difference nationally.”

Clare’s training will continue throughout 2026 with January’s training sessions already fully booked. And while the new year might bring new climate challenges, National Landscape teams will have Clare’s expertise to guide them through the ever-evolving situation.