Impact of geography

English Indices of Deprivation 2025

In 2025, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) released the 2025 Indices of Deprivation (IoD) for England. This is the latest release in a series which started in 2000, created to allow decision makers to understand deprivation across England and updates the 2019 IoD.

Using satellite imagery to identify the largest methane plumes

The Stop Methane Project at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) analysed global methane emissions from oil and gas infrastructure, identifying the world’s 25 largest methane plumes detected in 2025.

Living England Habitat Map

Natural England’s Living England project is transforming monitoring habitat distribution and environmental change across England.

Integrating sea‑level rise projections into planning policy in Kaua’i County

Integrating sea level rise projections into planning policy in Kaua’i County

Kaua‘i County, Hawaii has introduced a Sea Level Rise Constraint District which aims to ensure building developments are resilient to long term sea level rise impacts.

Identifying homes in flood risk areas across England

Aviva’s analysis reveals that the share of new homes built in England’s flood‑risk areas has increased significantly, with one in nine new properties constructed between 2022 and 2024 located in medium or high flood‑risk zones.

Mapping children’s access to playgrounds across England

Access to playgrounds and play areas are important to children’s health, well-being, and social development. The University of Sheffield have been investigating how access is dictated by geography and deprivation, and the inequality of provision.

Meeting the Bank of England’s climate standards

Ordnance Survey (OS) is helping financial institutions identify, measure, and manage climate risks across insurance and retail banking portfolios, to comply with the Bank of England’s new climate standards

Preserving place name heritage in modern developments

GeoPlace and the Institute for Name-Studies collaborated to undertake historical research into modern street-naming policies, ensuring that traditional names are considered in development projects and honours local history.

Mitigating and adapting climate risks to properties and neighbourhoods

Working with Liverpool-based housing association, Livv Housing Group, Map Impact is helping to improve understanding of climate risks to properties and neighbourhoods.

Identifying hard to heat homes in the UK

Ordnance Survey (OS) worked to identify homes most vulnerable to heat loss across the UK, helping local authorities target energy-efficiency interventions where they are needed most.

Wetlands protecting England’s coasts

Research from the Cambridge Coastal Research Unit (CCRU) demonstrated the critical role that coastal wetlands play as natural buffers against storm impacts.

Supporting nature-based solutions to flood risks in Britain

The Rivers Trust has helped to accelerate the delivery of Natural Flood Management strategies (NFM) to support more local organisations, community groups, farmers and volunteers to work together more effectively against flood risk.