Adam Barker

Adam Barker is a Senior Lecturer in Spatial Planning at the University of Manchester, affiliated with the Planning, Property and Environmental Management department. He serves as Programme Director for the MSc in Environmental Impact Assessment and Management, and holds roles in the SEED Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee and the Manchester Urban Institute (MUI). His professional memberships include Fellow and Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute (FLI, CMLI) and Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).

Research Interests:

• Climate Change Adaptation: Green Infrastructure (GI), coastal risk, urban flooding, and environmental adaptation strategies.
• Environmental Assessment: Specializing in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), and Sustainability Appraisal (SA).
• Integrated Environmental Management: Coastal and marine planning, protected areas management, and landscape systems.

Recent Projects:

• IGNITION (EU UIA): Innovating financing for natural climate solutions in Greater Manchester (2023–2026).
• GROW GREEN (EU Horizon 2020): Nature-based solutions for climate resilience in European cities (2017–2022).
• Green Growth (NERC): Institutional dynamics of green infrastructure decision-making (2016–2017).

Publications: His work spans green infrastructure policy, climate adaptation, and urban sustainability, with a focus on interdisciplinary approaches to environmental challenges. Recent articles highlight urban greenspace benefits for aging populations and strategic planning for nature-based solutions.

Grants and Awards: Has led or co-led projects funded by EU, NERC, ESRC, and other bodies, totaling over £multi-million in research funding. No specific awards listed, but his contributions to policy frameworks and international collaborations are notable.

Labs/Teams: Active in the Manchester Urban Institute, Manchester Environmental Research Institute (MERI), and the Green Cities Framework initiative.