On 16 October, Ousewem led the session Nature, trust and capital: advancing flood resilience in Yorkshire at the Yorkshire Post Climate Change Summit 2025.
The discussion explored how nature-based solutions (NbS) can help residents, landowners, and businesses adapt to climate change while attracting investment.
The panel brought together experts from across the region:
- Victoria Murray, Ousewem, highlighted how catchment-level interventions can slow and store water, support biodiversity, and provide evidence for investment.
- Luke Wellock, Aire Resilience Company (ARC), highlighted key national learnings and emphasised the increasingly important role of the private sector in funding local-level climate adaptation.
- George Richmond, York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, placed natural flood management (NFM) within regional strategy and net zero ambitions.
The panel discussion explored how to build long-term trust with landowners and businesses such that they invest in nature-based solutions, and what policies are needed to support this.
“The work we’re doing across catchments shows how local partnerships and robust evidence can guide practical action and inform wider investment decisions,”
said Victoria Murray, Ousewem project manager.
“Across different projects, aligning environmental outcomes with finance frameworks is key. Sharing lessons from local initiatives helps everyone understand what works,”
said Luke Wellock, ARC.
“Nature-based solutions are critical climate infrastructure. The opportunity is to connect local delivery with regional policy and investment to support long-term resilience,”
said George Richmond, York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.
City of York Council’s wider role in the Summit was also reflected in a separate panel featuring Cllr Jenny Kent, Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency, who underlined the importance of aligning city-led action with regional and national strategies. Cllr Kent added:
“Ousewem’s work in the Swale, Ure, Nidd, and Upper Ouse catchments demonstrates how natural flood management interventions can be scaled to attract finance and deliver multiple benefits.
"The Summit provided an opportunity to share lessons, foster dialogue, and explore practical ways to embed nature-based solutions in regional and national climate strategies.”