UK climate adaptation plans updated as extreme heat spreads around the globe

While much of the world swelters under soaring temperatures, the government has set out its latest plans for protecting the UK against climate change – but experts say it doesn’t go far enough. 

2023 is already proving to be another year of record extreme weather events. Countries across Southern Europe, from Greece to the Canary Islands, are currently experiencing searing heatwaves and wildfires, with temperatures likely to exceed the continent’s record of 48.8C.

Canada is also battling its worst season of wildfires on record, over 110 million people in the US are sitting under a prolonged ‘heat dome’, China is seeing record temperatures and other parts of South East Asia have been hit by torrential rain and landslides.

England and Wales recorded around 3,000 excess deaths during the record heatwaves in 2022, when temperatures breached 40C for the first time. Evidence suggests that without action, the physical impacts of worsening climate change will cost England’s economy billions every year, rising to 1 -1.5 per cent of GDP by 2045.

How the UK is preparing

The UK government is required by law to complete a Climate Change Risk Assessment every five years, followed by a National Adaptation Programme to address the risks identified. The last risk assessment was published in 2022.

Today, the government unveiled its latest National Adaptation Programme, setting out a strategic five-year plan to address key climate risks over the coming years.

Elements of the new programme include:

• £2.2 billion of investment to safeguard the UK’s water supply, including measures like water efficiency labelling on water-using products
• £5.2 billion of investment in flood and coastal erosion schemes
• £750 million for the Nature for Climate Fund, which supports nature-based solutions for climate resilience
• £15 million to build the evidence base on effective adaptation action
• £1.5 billion in overseas development assistance to support vulnerable communities worldwide by 2025
• Updating planning rules and building regulations, building on recent updates to reduce excess heat and unwanted solar gains in new residential buildings
• Supporting schools and hospitals adapt to a warmer climate through nature-based solutions like rain gardens and natural shading
• Providing information and support to businesses on how to adapt to higher temperatures, water scarcity, storms and flooding
• Piloting a new Local Authority Climate Service, which will provide local authorities with localised climate data and hazard warnings
• Establishing a new Climate Resilience Board that will bring together senior officials from across government departments to oversee cross-cutting climate adaptation efforts.

‘We need a national effort’

Despite the government describing the updated programme as a “robust five-year plan”, critics have pointed out that few of the commitments are new and more urgency is required.

Louise Hutchins, head of policy and public affairs at the UK Green Building Council, said a nationwide approach to adapting homes and workplaces was “largely missing”.

“We need a national effort to install measures like shutters, insulation, reflective paint, and water-efficient fixtures and fittings in our homes and buildings, and shady trees and green spaces in our neighbourhoods,” she warned.

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