An online map charting the effect of climate change and social disadvantage in England has been launched to support local decision makers.
Providing detail on a neighbourhood level, Climate Just aims to offer information on 'hot spots' across the country that could see climate change exacerbating local inequality.
The free tool has been provided by Climate UK and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, in partnership with the Environment Agency and the University of Manchester.
England's core cities today came out in support of the website, describing it as 'a fantastic resource that will enable councils to understand the climate disadvantage in their area and respond accordingly, planning for a changing climate whilst also creating a more equal society'.
Newcastle City Council provided advice for the tool's development alongside piloting the evidence.
Katharine Knox, programme manager at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation said: 'Climate change risks compounding existing disadvantage and inequality in the UK. We want to support those with a role in responses to better understand how to take account of these issues. The Climate Just website highlights both what makes people vulnerable and which places may be most climate disadvantaged.
'We hope this will help organisations to better understand the issues and the actions they can take to respond, whether through community engagement and awareness raising to increase resilience, or direct measures for example to improve flood protection or tackle fuel poverty.'
Mike Peverill, Director of Climate UK said: 'This is an important new resource for tackling climate change in the UK and we have been privileged to manage its development. Climate Just enables us to develop local responses that are fair for everyone, as well as reducing our emissions and increasing resilience.
'Climate UK's network of public service providers are already dedicated to tackling the issue of climate change. Climate Just gives them the evidence and tools to refine those responses and ensure that they are socially just.'
