Speaker module

Cole Dittmar is Adaptation Lead (Climate Change Project Officer) at Southwark Council, where he leads adaptation planning, advisory and data to mainstream adaptation across the organisation. His work focuses on embedding climate risk into day‑to‑day decision‑making, capital programmes and wider council priorities, including decent homes, public health and reducing inequality. At Southwark, Cole supports delivery of the borough’s Climate Action Plan, embedding physical climate risk into investment and service planning. He contributed to the borough’s first heat‑risk datasets, supporting the operationalisation of Southwark’s £1m Climate Adaptation Fund, and leads delivery of the Hot Homes pilot, piloting approaches to mitigating overheating risk. Across London, Cole led the development and co‑design of the London Councils Adaptation Hub and Blueprint, establishing a shared adaptation planning framework for all 33 London boroughs. Previously, Cole advised on corporate sustainability at Forum for the Future and co‑authored a climate and health report presented at COP27. Named to edie’s 30 Under 30 Class of 2025, he holds a prize‑winning MA in Global Political Economy from the University of Sussex and a BA in International Relations.