According to the government’s statutory adviser, the UK’s strategy for addressing the impacts of the climate crisis is inadequate.

The CCC has reviewed the national adaptation program released by government officials in July. This program aims to outline strategies for safeguarding individuals, structures, and critical national systems including water, transportation, energy, and telecommunication networks from the intensifying impacts of storms, floods, heatwaves, and droughts brought on by climate change in the UK.

The committee’s verdict on Wednesday was damning, as it revealed that the government lacked a viable strategy for mitigating the impact of severe weather in the UK.

According to Julia King, the head of the Climate Change Committee’s adaptation subcommittee, it is clear that climate change is causing significant harm. However, the current strategy in the UK for dealing with these effects is not effective.

The third installment of the national adaptation plan, released in July and referred to as Nap3, is part of a five-year cycle of revisions aimed at addressing climate risks. This requirement is outlined in the 2008 Climate Change Act and is overseen by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

However, the CCC determined that although there was some progress compared to previous attempts, the recent proposal was still insufficient and needed to be enhanced before the upcoming revision in 2028.

King stressed the urgency for Defra to enhance the government’s current strategy by improving its alignment with other important objectives, including achieving net zero emissions and restoring nature. Waiting five more years for marginal progress is not acceptable.

The Climate Change Committee (CCC) concluded that the majority of Nap3’s strategies were derived from preexisting policies or systems. However, these were deemed insufficient as they failed to consider over half of the immediate measures recommended in the current risk assessment for mitigating extreme weather risks.

The report strongly condemned Defra for not prioritizing adaptation and for lacking collaboration with other government divisions on the matter. The CCC discovered that ministers also did not adequately fund adaptation initiatives or offer incentives for private sector funding, and there was insufficient supervision and assessment.

Commissioner Jim Hall of the National Infrastructure Commission emphasized the importance of considering extreme weather when planning for infrastructure development. He noted that companies, including utilities, are expected to invest around £400 billion by 2030, making it crucial to ensure that this spending is adapted and resilient. He also urged the government to act quickly in order to optimize these investments for adaptation and resilience.

The reports indicate that the government needs to increase its measures for safeguarding individuals, property, and infrastructure in order to avoid disaster.

The environmental organization Friends of the Earth announced that they will be suing the government for the insufficiency of their plans to combat climate change. The head of policy, Mike Childs, stated that the current plans are not sufficient to protect people, property, and infrastructure from the increasing effects of the climate crisis. He emphasized the urgent need for the government to acknowledge the severity of the situation and take swift action to reduce reliance on expensive fossil fuels while implementing a concrete strategy to protect lives and livelihoods from the impact of a rapidly warming planet.

Gareth Redmond-King, the leader of the international division at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) thinktank, stated that while the government is slowing down efforts to address climate change, their advisors are reminding us that they are also not doing enough to prepare for the severe consequences. The effects of climate change are increasingly devastating as we continue to warm the planet. Neglecting to invest in adapting our infrastructure and services is comparable to not getting house insurance: while it may save money in the short run, it will lead to much higher costs when disaster strikes.

He stated that the UK has a responsibility to assist other countries in adapting to the effects of climate change. Around half of the UK’s food imports originate from regions that are likely to be heavily impacted by these changes. If we neglect to aid these nations in adapting, it could result in lower yields of staple foods like rice, bananas, and tea, causing shortages and price increases.

In February, the Earth experienced the highest temperatures ever recorded, while the UK saw its fourth highest levels of rainfall. The heavy precipitation is posing challenges for farmers trying to plant crops, and the warmer weather caused bees to wake up early from hibernation, leading to potential issues with pollination as there were not many flowers available for them to feed on.

According to Tom Lancaster, a land analyst at ECIU, consistent rainfall this winter is expected to result in a poor harvest during the summer. Last year’s floods impacted crop production and similarly, the previous year’s droughts also had a negative effect.

The government’s third national adaptation program outlines a strong five-year strategy to fortify infrastructure, encourage an environmentally-friendly economy, and protect food production from the challenges of climate change, according to a representative from the government.

“We are devoting massive funds towards initiatives aimed at enhancing the UK’s ability to withstand the effects of climate change. This includes allocating £5.2bn towards flood and coastal projects in England, expediting £2.2bn of investment to secure future water resources through our ambitious water plan, and promoting tree planting and peat restoration through our £750m nature for climate fund.”

“Our representatives played a vital role at the Cop28 conference in facilitating the realization of a bold worldwide objective for adaptation. As a frontrunner in climate adaptation, the UK is in a favorable position to successfully attain these aspirations.”

Source: theguardian.com