29 Mar Action must be taken to deliver climate adaptation states climate change committee
The UK’s climate watchdog, the Climate Change Committee (CCC), has announced that significant preparation is required, in terms of green policies, suggesting the UK government must focus on adaptation within all areas of the economy or potentially risk undermining net-zero goals and ultimately impacting millions of people.
In a recent report to Parliament, the CCC explores the current response to the climate challenge and how more severe weather events impact our economy and society. The report focuses on the Government’s Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA3) which outlines over 60 risks and opportunities facing the UK because of the climate crisis. The risks and opportunities detail nature, infrastructure, economy and society. The CCC believes the existing Government-led National Adaptation Programme isn’t meeting the scale of the climate challenge. The CCC recommends that the Government completely restructure its approach to adaptation and its inclusion of green policies. The report warns that of the 45 adaptation outcomes researched by the CCC, only 5 have the necessary policy goals to make it achievable. The CCC also believes none of the 45 outcomes can highlight a significant reduction in climate-related exposure and vulnerability. The CCC believe the next programme must include bold targets and focus on delivering effective adaptation. The report states that there must be adaptation within relevant policies and strategies.
With the UK experiencing its first 40C day in 2022, the CCC warns the UK is experiencing significant climate impacts, which will only become worse without necessary adaptation policies. There are several recommendations the report has made for future government plans. The first is restructuring the Green Finance Strategy, clarifying where the Government intends adaptation actions funded through public sources. A reform of policies and measures would also be needed to prioritise climate resiliency, including necessary changes on all built environment project plans.
The CCC is also calling for a new nominee for groups like Ofgem to support the security of the energy industry. Ministers are debating aligning the existing climate mitigation remit at Ofgem with the UK’s updated climate targets. The report also details business preparation and the risk of adaptation. The report highlights while more businesses are reporting climate risks, there remains a gap in disclosing risk management and adaptation action. According to the report, businesses are impacted by a lack of aligned adaptation standards and limited financial resources to support these actions.
Baroness Brown, chair of the Adaptation Committee, believes the lack of urgency on climate resilience doesn’t meet the recent experiences of people across the nation. Baroness Brown believes we have lost years in preparing and adapting to known risks associated with climate change. As time passes without decisive action, more damaging impacts appear that affect the delivery of critical government plans. Earlier this year, the CCC released a report suggesting that between half a billion to £1 billion will have to be directed into adaptation in the UK every year during the next decade.
Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP, explains that the CCC has shown that the current adaptation plan lacks enough ambition to drive necessary action, leaving people, nature and communities more vulnerable to climate impacts. Chris Richards, the director of policy at the Institution of Civil Engineers, states the CCC report is a clear warning to the Government that climate adaptation and resilience must be a policy priority immediately. Richards explains that as the UK continues shifting toward net zero, more of the nation’s infrastructure will become dependent on electricity. According to Richards, to effectively plan for the future, data gaps must be closed to prioritise action on vulnerable areas of the UK infrastructure.
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