Plymouth’s participation is being delivered through a partnership between Plymouth City Council, the University of Plymouth and the Key Cities Innovation Network, which initiated and coordinated the bid with support from Factual Consulting and Innovate UK.
The announcement places Plymouth among three UK regions chosen in this latest cohort, alongside Kent and Belfast, joining Greater London and Greater Manchester, who have been part of the initiative since 2023.
Launched in 2023, Pathways2Resilience now brings together 100 local and regional authorities, representing more than 100 million people, to strengthen their preparedness for increasingly severe climate impacts. The latest selected regions, representing a population of 55 million, identified their top climate risks as coastal and river flooding (43%), heat stress (36%), and drought (21%).
Plymouth will now receive €210,000 alongside tailored tools, expert guidance, mentoring, and peer learning opportunities to develop a robust climate resilience strategy plus an action and investment plan over the next 18 months.
The strategy will strengthen Plymouth’s long‑term resilience by improving critical infrastructure, protecting vulnerable people, restoring nature, and supporting sustainable industries. It will link climate adaptation with the city’s economic renewal and planning system so every new development contributes to resilience, particularly in deprived areas. Designed with local communities and expert partners, the approach aims to benefit Plymouth while providing a model for other coastal cities in the UK and Europe.
Councillor Tudor Evans, Leader of Plymouth City Council, said: “Plymouth has long championed climate resilience, and joining the Pathways2Resilience programme strengthens that commitment. This initiative will help us work with partners and communities to prepare for future challenges while celebrating our unique marine heritage. Through projects like the ‘Sea for Yourself’ programme and our bid for UK City of Culture, we are ensuring that sustainability and culture go hand in hand, creating opportunities for everyone to engage with Plymouth Sound National Marine Park and the city’s vibrant coastal identity.”
Professor Sheela Agarwal, Professor of Regional Economic Development and Coastal Futures and Co-Director of the Centre for Coastal Communities at the University of Plymouth, said: “This is a fabulous initiative which builds on our partnership work to examine the challenges facing England’s coastal communities. Through this new funding, we will deliver a highly integrated climate resilience strategy that tackles critical infrastructure, public health, ecosystems, and local economic systems in a joined-up way. The outputs will help Plymouth confront sea level rise, flooding, heat stress, and social vulnerability, and generate practical tools and proven methods that deliver transformative impact well beyond the south coast of England.”
Cllr John Merry CBE, Chair of Key Cities, commented: “This project builds directly on some of the insights and recommendations in last year’s Key Cities report ‘On the waterfront’, which was produced by the Key Cities Innovation Network in close collaboration with Plymouth City Council and the University of Plymouth. We look forward to sharing insights with member cities – both coastal and inland – across the network, further enriched by the experience of cities all over Europe.”
Pathways2Resilience programme coordinator Thomas Koetz, of Climate KIC, added: “With 100 regions now on board, Pathways2Resilience is creating a powerful network of local communities committed to climate adaptation. This second cohort brings fresh energy and diverse perspectives, helping us accelerate Europe’s resilience journey at a time when climate impacts are intensifying.”
For more information, visit www.pathways2resilience.eu
