As the UK faces increasing heatwaves, heavier rainfall and rising insurance pressures linked to climate change, the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) have published a new guide to help local authorities consider climate impacts in planning decisions.

Planning for the Climate Crisis: A Guide for Local Authorities outlines how councils can use existing planning powers to cut emissions, strengthen local resilience and protect communities from the growing impacts of climate change – despite ongoing resource pressures and shifting national policy.

As climate risks increase, securing the long-term safety of communities is an urgent priority for planners. The guide notes that climate-related risks, such as flooding, coastal erosion, and overheating, now have real implications for investment and insurance availability.

Now in its fifth edition, the guide offers clear, accessible advice on planning for net zero buildings, sustainable transport, renewable energy, flood and coastal risk, water scarcity, overheating and more.

Dr Daniel Slade, Head of Research and Practice at the RTPI, said: “The climate crisis is no longer an abstract issue consigned to the future; today, it is shaping lives and livelihoods throughout the UK. By considering climate impacts in planning decisions, councils can help ensure places remain safe, sustainable and economically secure.”

Celia Davis, Projects and Policy Manager at the Town and Country Planning Association, said: “Planning is one of the most powerful tools we have for addressing the climate crisis, and local authorities have an urgent responsibility to put climate resilience at the heart of their development plans and decision making. This guide provides practical advice on how local authorities can take ambitious action on a series of climate change issues to support the delivery of low carbon, healthy and resilient communities.”