As last year’s heatwave demonstrated, the UK already faces significant challenges from the changing climate; these will intensify as warming continues. Government has been too slow to react.
In common with Net Zero, a major programme of investment is required to meet the UK’s adaptation needs. But unlike Net Zero, the Government has not defined its priorities. That uncertainty is preventing progress on appraising the country’s investment needs and closing the adaptation gap.
In this report, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) offers new analysis of the UK’s adaptation investment priorities – and a series of recommendations to ensure that these are funded or privately financed.
The country’s adaptation investment needs already include preparation for flooding, future proofing of infrastructure and housing, investment in public water supply and nature restoration. In these areas alone, it’s plausible that new investment of the order of £10bn per year will be needed to prepare the UK for expected climate change. That figure could rise further with more dangerous levels of global warming.
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Posted On: 01/02/2023