UK Climate Change Committee recommends solutions for climate risks
By 2050, 92% of homes are likely to overheat and peak river flows will be up to 45% higher, says the committee.
It also estimates water supply shortfalls to exceed five billion litres per day,
The Climate Change Committee report 'A well-adapted UK' makes recommendations to address the growing impacts of climate change that cost ~£11bln a year.
The independent climate advisors identify better cooling, flood protection and a more secure water supply as the most critical priorities to protect the UK from the three biggest climate risks – heat, flooding and drought.
The cost of inaction is far greater than the cost of acting now. The Committee's proposals require investment of around £11bln a year, split broadly evenly between public and private funding.
Without adaptation, the body predicts the cost of climate change to public welfare is predicted to rise to between 1-5 of UK GDP by 2050 under a 2°C global warming level, equivalent to £60-£260bln per year.
Baroness Brown, Chair of the Adaptation Committee, says, 'Our lives, our landscapes and our homes are under increasing pressure from the changing climate. But we are not powerless. In an increasingly unstable world, being well adapted to climate change is fundamental to securing our food, energy and economic security.'
The Adaptation Committee’s eight key areas for government action are:
- Protect people from heat
- Manage flood risk
- Avoid water shortages
- Support nature to adapt
- Keep farming viable
- Understand the risks to food security
- Maintain access to insurance
- Adapt infrastructure to avoid cascading disruption
