How well prepared is the UK for climate change?

The Adaptation Sub-Committe (the independent body that advises government on climate adaptation) published the first national assessment of how well prepared the UK is for climate change, on 16th September 2010. The report concludes that, with the impacts of climate change already being felt in the UK, people must start preparing now.

Climate change is already having an impact in the UK. Since the 1970s, average annual temperatures have risen by 1 degree Celsius, and Spring arrives 11 days earlier. These impacts are likely to increase as a result of future climate change, with the incidence of extreme weather events such as floods, heat-waves and droughts becoming more frequent. The UK needs to start taking action to prepare for these impacts, ensuring that we have the resilience to cope with climate change.

The Committee stressed that adaptation is not an alternative to mitigation but complements our continued and essential efforts to reduce emissions by 80% in 2050. Adaptation is about adjusting the way that we do things to ensure that we are prepared.

The Committee found that some progress has been made by government in raising awareness, but crucially, that very little tangible action has taken place on the ground. The emphasis should therefore now be on moving from talking about adaptation to taking action in 5 priority areas: 

1. Land-use planning
2. Infrastructure
3. Buildings
4. Natural resources
5. Emergency planning

Recent research suggests that taking measures to adapt to climate change could halve costs of climate change, and that the costs of failing to adapt will outweigh the costs of acting in the short term.

In addition, the UK stands to benefit from new economic opportunities if it plans for these now. For example, lengthened growing seasons will make growing exotic crops like apricots, walnuts, champagne and wine more viable. UK businesses could benefit by developing products and services that will be required in the retrofit of old buildings and to improve the resilience of supply chains.

Download the report here: How well prepared is the UK for climate change?