CCC calls for stronger UK climate adaptation measures

Climate Change Committee calls for urgent action on heat, flooding and water security

The UK needs to move faster on climate adaptation. That is the message from the Climate Change Committee, which has told the government to strengthen protection for homes, infrastructure and public services against worsening climate impacts. According to the CCC, heat, flooding and drought are already placing increasing strain on daily life and the wider economy.

The committee published its recommendations in a report titled A Well-Adapted UK on 20 May 2026. It identifies three urgent national priorities: protecting people from heat, managing flood risk, and avoiding water shortages. The report argues that policy must now shift from recognizing the problem to delivering practical protections at scale.

The CCC’s intervention highlights a growing gap between climate risk and the UK’s preparedness. While the government has committed to setting more ambitious adaptation objectives ahead of the fourth National Adaptation Programme in 2028, the committee warns that current measures are not keeping pace with the speed at which risks are intensifying.

Evidence shows climate impacts are already intensifying across the UK

The CCC’s 2025 progress report on adaptation presents what it calls unequivocal evidence that climate change is making extreme weather more severe in the UK. Heatwaves, heavy rainfall and wildfire-conducive conditions are all becoming more common. The committee states that adaptation is needed now to prepare for current risks and for the rapidly increasing severity of future risks.

This assessment builds on earlier findings that the UK has fallen behind on adaptation. The CCC has previously argued that resilience measures have lagged far behind emissions reduction efforts, with too little evidence of large-scale implementation across the country. The gap between planning and delivery remains a central concern.

The committee’s latest report emphasizes that climate impacts are no longer hypothetical future scenarios. Extreme weather is already affecting transport networks, housing, water systems and agriculture. Consequently, the cost of inaction is rising with each year of delay.

The report sets out specific measures and investment levels

The CCC recommends a range of practical interventions. For heat protection, it calls for cooling in public buildings and other key services, including air conditioning, heat pumps and green shading. It also proposes a national maximum temperature for workplaces to protect workers from heat stress.

On flooding, the committee says annual UK flood risk investment needs to rise to between £1.6 billion and £2.2 billion. This funding would be required to stop risks worsening further as rainfall patterns change. The report highlights the importance of both traditional flood defences and nature-based solutions such as permeable paving and rain gardens.

Water security is the third priority. The CCC urges stronger drought planning, faster leakage reduction and lower demand for water. It recommends that new homes should be designed to be water efficient from the outset, reducing pressure on supply networks. Additionally, the report calls for greater investment in reservoirs and leak repair programmes.

The committee also addresses wider resilience issues. It wants the government to strengthen action on infrastructure resilience, insurance affordability, farming viability and nature-based adaptation. These measures are presented as cost-effective over the long term, particularly when compared with the cost of climate damage.

Key details from the Climate Change Committee report

• Annual flood risk investment across the UK needs to reach £1.6 billion to £2.2 billion to prevent risks from escalating further.
• The committee argues that investing in adaptation is cheaper than paying for climate damages after extreme weather events occur.
• Practical interventions include flood defences, green roofs, permeable paving, rain gardens, reservoirs, leak repair, passive cooling strategies and nature-based solutions.
• The government has committed to setting more ambitious adaptation objectives ahead of the fourth National Adaptation Programme, due in 2028.
• The CCC warns that the public want to see change and the government now has an opportunity to step up and protect the UK way of life.

Current policy framework does not match the scale of risk

The Adverse Weather and Health Plan, published in April 2023, remains the main UK-wide heat response framework. The Third National Adaptation Programme covers the period from 2023 to 2028. However, the London School of Economics’ Grantham Research Institute notes that the UK still does not have a dedicated National Heat Resilience Strategy.

The CCC’s position is that the current policy framework is not moving fast enough relative to risk. Its 2025 progress report argued that, despite some adaptation activity, there is still insufficient evidence of resilience being implemented at the scale required. The committee sees this as a critical weakness in the UK’s climate response.

A recent Science and Technology Committee session highlighted a shift in official thinking. Better adaptation targets, monitoring, governance and accountability are increasingly seen as necessary to translate evidence into action. The government has indicated it is working to reset the UK’s approach to climate adaptation, but the details of this reset remain to be seen.

The CCC has stated that in an increasingly unstable world, being well adapted to climate change is fundamental to securing food, energy and economic security. This framing positions adaptation as a mainstream economic and social necessity rather than a niche environmental concern.

Why this matters for UK businesses and public sector organisations

The CCC’s recommendations have direct implications for UK businesses and public sector organisations. Flood defences, cooling measures, drought preparedness and resilient infrastructure are no longer presented as optional extras. They are now central to protecting health, productivity and public services.

For businesses, extreme weather is already affecting operations. Transport disruptions during floods delay deliveries and prevent staff from reaching workplaces. Heatwaves reduce productivity and create health and safety concerns, particularly in workplaces without adequate cooling. Water shortages can constrain manufacturing processes and increase costs.

The proposed national maximum temperature for workplaces would create a new compliance requirement. Businesses would need to assess their buildings and consider whether additional cooling measures are necessary. This could mean significant capital investment for some organisations, particularly those operating older premises or warehouses.

Insurance costs are also likely to rise in areas at higher risk from flooding or other climate impacts. The CCC’s call for stronger action on insurance affordability suggests that some businesses and homeowners are already struggling to obtain cover at reasonable prices. This trend is expected to worsen unless adaptation measures reduce the underlying risk.

For public sector organisations, the report implies that adaptation must become a more explicit part of planning and budgeting. Schools, hospitals and local authority buildings will need cooling measures to protect occupants during heatwaves. Meanwhile, local councils face growing pressure to invest in flood defences and drainage systems, even as budgets remain constrained.

Supply chains are another area of concern. The CCC highlights risks to farming viability, which could affect food supply and prices. Businesses that rely on agricultural inputs or water-intensive processes may need to assess their exposure to drought and consider alternative sourcing or efficiency measures.

The committee’s emphasis on nature-based solutions also creates opportunities. Green roofs, permeable paving and rain gardens can reduce flood risk while improving urban environments. Businesses that invest in these measures may find they enhance property values and employee wellbeing, as well as contributing to climate resilience.

Costs of inaction are expected to exceed investment in adaptation

The CCC argues that the cost of proactive investment in adaptation is lower than the eventual bill for climate damage. This economic logic underpins its call for scaled-up spending. However, the report does not provide a detailed breakdown of how adaptation costs compare with damage costs across different sectors and regions.

Carbon Brief, summarizing the report, noted that the CCC sees adaptation investment as providing long-term savings by reducing damage from climate impacts. This perspective aligns with broader economic analysis suggesting that early action on climate risk is more cost-effective than reactive responses after extreme weather events.

For businesses, this means that investment in resilience measures today could reduce future costs from operational disruptions, property damage and insurance claims. Similarly, public sector organisations that invest in flood defences or cooling systems now may avoid much higher costs later from service disruptions or infrastructure failure.

The challenge is that adaptation costs are often borne upfront, while the benefits accrue over time. This creates a mismatch between short-term budget pressures and long-term risk management. The CCC’s report implies that government policy needs to address this tension by providing clearer funding mechanisms and incentives for adaptation investment.

What businesses should consider in response to the CCC report

Businesses should review their exposure to heat, flooding and water shortages. This means assessing whether premises are located in flood-prone areas, whether operations depend on reliable water supply, and whether buildings have adequate cooling for heatwaves. Our compliance support services can help organisations identify these risks and develop appropriate responses.

For companies that supply the public sector, adaptation is becoming increasingly relevant to procurement. The government’s commitment to more ambitious adaptation objectives suggests that tender criteria may soon place greater weight on climate resilience. Suppliers should consider how their products or services contribute to adaptation goals, and whether they need to strengthen their own resilience to maintain reliable delivery.

Businesses should also monitor policy developments around workplace temperature limits. If the government introduces a national maximum temperature for workplaces, this could require significant changes to premises and working practices. Early preparation would give businesses more time to plan and budget for necessary improvements.

Water efficiency is another area where early action may deliver benefits. The CCC’s call for lower demand and faster leakage reduction suggests that water stress is expected to worsen. Businesses that reduce their water consumption now may face lower costs and less disruption in future, particularly in regions where supply is already constrained.

Finally, businesses should consider how adaptation affects long-term planning and investment decisions. Property acquisitions, facility upgrades and infrastructure projects all need to factor in changing climate risks. Ignoring these risks could lead to stranded assets or unexpected costs down the line.

Further information and official guidance

The Climate Change Committee has published the full report, A Well-Adapted UK, along with its 2025 progress report on adaptation. Both documents are available on the CCC website. These reports provide detailed analysis of climate risks and adaptation measures across different sectors.

The UK government’s climate adaptation policy is set out in the Third National Adaptation Programme, which covers the period from 2023 to 2028. The government has also published the Adverse Weather and Health Plan, which sets out the framework for responding to heatwaves and other extreme weather events.

For analysis of the UK’s approach to heatwave risk, the LSE Grantham Research Institute provides detailed research and policy commentary. This includes discussion of the gaps in current policy and potential measures to strengthen heat resilience.

Businesses seeking support with climate risk assessment and adaptation planning can explore training and resources through the SBS Academy, which offers practical guidance on managing climate-related business risks.