Climate Adaptation Through Co-creation 

Written by Tom Luddington – Coastal Stakeholder Manager – Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum

Having lived and worked on the coast in Pembrokeshire for 30+ years, the impacts of climate change are more than just headlines to me, they’re tides creeping higher, storms growing stronger, and communities facing increasing uncertainty about what the future holds. As Stakeholder Manager at Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum (PCF), I’ve had the privilege of working alongside communities, local authorities, businesses, and other organisations who are all wrestling with the same challenge: how do we prepare together for a future that is changing fast? 
 
It is complex to understand what the increased risks might be depending on different CO2 emissions scenarios, and to understand who all the organisations are – and where responsibilities lie in preparing for, and minimising the risks.  

This is why we created the Pembrokeshire Climate Adaptation Toolkit – a practical, flexible resource designed to help local communities understand the risks we all face and identify the actions we can take. But the toolkit is just one part of the picture. What really brings it to life is the process of co-creation: people coming together, listening deeply, and shaping solutions that reflect the shared wisdom and needs of the place they call home. 

Across Pembrokeshire and beyond, the climate emergency is already reshaping life at the coast. We are seeing: 
– More frequent and intense storms 
– Sea level rise – (average prediction is +1 metre by 2100) 
– Heavier rainfall 
– Hotter, drier summers 
 
For communities that depend on tourism, fishing, or marine industries, and have infrastructure and houses by the coast – these changes pose both direct and indirect threats to livelihoods and well-being. 

And as sea levels rise, Pembrokeshire’s coastal habitats – mudflats, salt marshes, dunes – face “coastal squeeze,” trapped between rising tides and human infrastructure. This threatens SSSIs and vital wildlife, from waders and otters to rare plants and dune insects. Climate adaptation plans must consider nature: creating space for habitats to shift inland, restoring dunes and marshes, and strengthening natural buffers. By supporting resilient coastal ecosystems, we protect biodiversity and help shield communities from the impacts of climate change. 
 
Yet despite the urgency, there is no single organisation with the responsibility – or the power – to plan and deliver climate adaptation at the coast. And no clear funding mechanism to support climate adaptation work. Responsibilities are fragmented across local authorities, national agencies, Welsh government, landowners, businesses, and community groups. This fragmentation can lead to gaps in action, duplicated efforts, or missed opportunities to work together more effectively. 
 
That’s why community interest organisations like Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum are an important part of the puzzle. We don’t come with a fixed agenda. Instead, we work as independent facilitators – bringing people together, building trust, and helping to turn shared understanding into shared action. 

Why Co-creation Matters 

Through the Pembrokeshire Co-creation Network and years of work in collaborative facilitation, I’ve seen the power of co-creation to overcome these barriers. It’s not just about working together, it’s about creating a space where people with different roles, values, and experiences can co-design solutions that are locally relevant and widely supported. Each coastal town, harbour and village in Pembrokeshire needs a nuanced place-based approach. 
 
Co-creation is particularly important in climate adaptation, where uncertainty is high, impacts are uneven, and decisions often affect both people and the environment in complex ways. 
 
It’s also deeply human work. It asks us to be open to new perspectives, to sit with discomfort, to really consider future generations, and to move forward together – step by step. 

Toolkit in Action: A Pilot in Saundersfoot 

One of the first real-world applications of the new Climate Adaptation toolkit for Pembrokeshire is now underway in Saundersfoot, a vibrant coastal town already feeling the effects of coastal flooding, coastal erosion and sea level rise. We’re currently piloting the approach by bringing together a working group of key local stakeholders – including the harbour authority, county council officers, representatives from Natural Resources Wales and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, The Crown Estate and local businesses and residents. 
 
This is very much the beginning of the journey. Our aim is to explore how the toolkit can support structured, inclusive conversations that help the community: 
– Understand local climate risks 
– Identify existing strengths and vulnerabilities 
– Begin to shape shared priorities for local adaptation action 
 
Even at this early stage, it’s clear that having a neutral space to come together is valuable in itself. Different people bring different insights – from lived experience to technical expertise – and our role at PCF is to facilitate the process so those voices can be heard, and build on each other. 
 
It’s too soon to talk about outcomes, but what we’re seeing already is interest, engagement, and a willingness to collaborate – an encouraging sign that co-creation has real potential to support locally led climate action. 

What I’m Learning 

– Start with listening. People need space to speak honestly and be heard before they can work together productively. 
– Facilitation matters. Neutral conveners like PCF can help build the trust and clarity needed to start collective conversations. 
– Every place is different. The toolkit is a guide – not a blueprint. Flexibility is essential. 
– It’s early days. But the commitment and curiosity we’re seeing in Saundersfoot suggests this pilot approach could work well in other communities too. 

A Call to Action 

If you’re part of a community or organisation thinking about climate risks, get in touch. Often, the first and most important step is simply to bring people together. 
 
At Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum, we believe that no one organisation can or should lead this alone. We are still learning as we go. But if we can share what works – and what doesn’t – we can support other coastal communities to rise to the challenge of climate adaptation, together. 

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