“We must mobilise to protect Yorkshire and the Humber”

Asif Husain-Naviatti, Chair of Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commission, reflects on the Commission’s latest meeting in Hull which had a focus on flooding, water, and land stewardship.

I want to extend my warm thanks to Hull City Council for hosting one of our most engaging, informative, and constructive Commission meetings to date. The session powerfully underscored just how urgently we must mobilise around the impacts of climate change across Yorkshire and the Humber, to protect people, property, businesses and infrastructure, and to preserve our natural environment. These are concerns of immense and inescapable importance equally to our communities, sectors, and authorities.

We began the day with a compelling walking tour focused on surface water flood risk, an issue of increasing relevance for our region. It was striking to see first hand the defences that protect Hull’s people, businesses and industries, including the vital role of the tidal barrier. This practical foundation wonderfully set the stage for a deeply engaging afternoon, where we confronted the dual pressures of flooding and long-term water insecurity. Commissioners who attended the walking tour gained valuable insights which contributed to an enriched discussion.

Indeed, the timing could not have been more appropriate. Just days earlier, Yorkshire saw its second hosepipe ban in three years, expected to last well into winter. This is a stark reminder that what used to be a once-in-a-generation drought, with the last ban prior to 2022 in 1995, is becoming disturbingly normal. Meanwhile, communities across our region were grappling with flash flooding triggered by torrential rain in the days following the meeting.

Unfortunately, these are not isolated events. They reflect a deeper reality that Yorkshire and the Humber stands at the very forefront of a climate emergency affecting the whole UK. We are uniquely exposed to the compounding threats of river, coastal, and surface water flooding, and the cascading impacts of prolonged dry spells punctuated by intense and erratic rainfall.

Commissioners came well prepared with thoughtful contributions, and ready not only to reflect but to act. One of the most vital roles we play as a Commission is to convene, connect, and catalyse, to encourage meaningful collaboration and coordination across authorities, communities, landowners, businesses, and other key actors. The Commission’s Land and Water Stewardship (LAWS) project is a critical opportunity to do just that, and our discussion last week clearly showed the energy, will and momentum to unlock its full potential.

This project illustrates perfectly how essential it is we continue to approach these challenges through the multiple lenses that shape people’s lives – nature, food, housing, business, leisure, energy, and all the essential goods, systems and services that make our communities liveable and resilient. Land and water lie at the heart of them all. How we manage these vital resources, together, will determine whether we succeed or fail in adapting to a changing climate.

There is no doubt that Yorkshire and the Humber has a central role to play in shaping solutions that have national relevance. But we must be bold. We must stay informed, remain connected, and use our collective and individual voices and influence to drive change.

I urge all our Commissioners to carry forward what we learned last week – both within the Commission and through their wider influence. We are not simply observers of this crisis. We are shapers of its response, and the work we do now matters immensely.

Asif Husain-Naviatti

Image: Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commission