A Perfect Storm is a 2025 report by the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales (NICW), an independent advisory body to Welsh Ministers. The report examines whether Wales is doing enough to coordinate action and engage communities in adapting infrastructure to a changing climate. The report provides independent analysis and recommendations, with a strong emphasis on place-based planning and community involvement in climate adaptation.
Key highlights
- Climate risks are highly place-specific, with different communities facing different challenges such as flooding, heat stress, drought and coastal erosion, requiring locally tailored responses.
- Community engagement is inconsistent, often happening late or on a project-by-project basis, contributing to consultation fatigue and missed local insight.
- Adaptation efforts are fragmented, with public bodies and infrastructure providers planning in silos and using different data and assumptions.
- Effective adaptation depends on people as well as assets, with the report stressing that involving communities early can improve trust, fairness and long-term resilience, particularly in areas facing disadvantage.
Why this matters for place-based approaches
The NICW’s findings reinforce that climate adaptation cannot be delivered through technical or infrastructure solutions alone.
It requires coordinated, place-based approaches that bring together public bodies, infrastructure providers and communities around shared understanding of local risks and priorities. The report positions meaningful community involvement as central to building resilience, rather than an optional add-on.
Read the full report:
A Perfect Storm: Is Wales doing enough to coordinate action and engage communities in adapting our infrastructure to a changing climate?
National Infrastructure Commission for Wales (2025)
