Communication for Weather Risk Reduction
- Date: Thursday 12 March 2026, 12:00 – 16:00
- Location: County Hall, London, Belvedere Road, Lambeth SE1 7PB
- Type: Ideas in Practice, Seminars and lectures
- Cost: FREE
Join us to hear evidence-based recommendations for weather risk communication, drawing on expertise from Leeds University Business School academics.
Register your place on Eventbrite
Over the last 50 years, weather-related disasters have led to over two million deaths and three trillion dollars in damages worldwide. In the UK, the Office for National Statistics estimates that between 1988 and 2022 over 250,000 deaths in England and Wales were related to severe cold or heat, while the Association for British Insurers report that in in the first nine months of 2025 claims for property damage caused by severe weather were £936 million. To reduce the harm to people and property caused by these events, effective communication is critical in terms of both direct communication to the general public and to those services and organisations involved in disaster risk reduction and management.
Insights from social and behavioural science can help to inform how warnings, forecasts and other forms of risk-reduction information can be effectively presented to different audiences. For this to be successful, collaboration is needed between information providers, risk communication specialists, and policy and decision makers to ensure a shared understanding of what types of decisions need to be supported, what information can be provided and what the most effective ways of providing it are.
Join our event, where we will we collectively explore the best modes of response for extreme weather risk reduction and improved outcomes for agencies, specialisists, emergency service responders and citizens.
The event aims to:
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Share evidence-based recommendations for weather risk communication drawing on expertise from Leeds University Business School academics
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Promote discussion on risk communication between agencies and decision makers involved in weather risk management, information providers and risk communication specialists
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Identify areas where additional research and consideration is needed to support decision-making for weather risk reduction
This event is for policymakers, decision makers and practitioners involved in assessing, managing or communicating weather risk, as well as those involved in weather warning provision and emergency service response.
Event Programme:
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12:00 |
Arrival and networking lunch |
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12:45 |
Welcome and introduction Dr Andrea Taylor, Associate Professor, and Professor Barbara Summers, Professor of Human Judgement and Decision Making, both at Leeds University Business School |
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12:55 |
Presentation: Risk communication research Dr Andrea Taylor and Professor Barabara Summers, Leeds University Business School – Title TBC Followed by audience question-and-answer session. |
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13:25 |
Lightning talks by guest speakers Helen Roberts, Senior Operational Meteorologist and Media Advisor at the Met Office – The Common Warnings Framework Lloyds Register Foundation speaker to be confirmed – Global Challenges Cabinet Office speaker to be confirmed – The National Risk Register Emergency services speaker to be confirmed – Title TBC Five minutes for presentation and 10 minutes for audience questions after all presentations have been delivered. |
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13:55 |
Panel session: Chair: Dr Andrea Taylor or Professor Barbara Summers, Leeds University Business School – Title TBC Panellists: All lightning talk guest speakers. |
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14:35 |
Refreshment break |
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14:50 |
Roundtable discussions: Weather risk information and communication across different agencies Facilitators: Dr Andrea Taylor and Professor Barbara Summers, Leeds University Business School
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15:35 |
Roundtable feedback Representatives from each table share their feedback with the room. |
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15:50 |
Networking lunch |
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16:00 |
Event wrap-up and next steps Dr Andrea Taylor and Professor Barbara Summers, Leeds University Business School |
If you have any questions about this event, please contact Grace Carter at Leeds University Business School.