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Regardless of how successful we are in efforts to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, climate change will affect people, business and public services in the future. In the UK, and in other developed countries, adaptation to climate change has been given only a fraction of the attention that has gone into reducing greenhouse gases. The need to adapt to climate change is poorly understood by the public, much of business and many in the public sector. The Government must build awareness and support for the wide-ranging and urgent programme of action that is needed. It must make it clear, that if we are to protect people, property and prosperity and safeguard the natural environment, adapting to climate change is at least as essential as cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
The Government recognises its work on adaptation is at an early stage. The capacity to manage climate change risks varies across Whitehall, but improvements are being made, with Defra and the Environment Agency demonstrating leadership. Over the last two years the Government has put in place a new policy framework that compares well with arrangements in other countries. The framework is helping to identify the main climate change risks the country faces. The challenge is to improve the understanding of these risks, and build capacity at all levels of government and in the private sector to tackle threats and exploit opportunities. Joint-working within and across sectors is needed to establish coherent plans and take efficient and effective action.
Climate change impacts will vary considerably from location to location and it is at the very local level that many decisions and actions need to be taken. Government departments and other public bodies should enable local communities to take action to address the risks they face.
Adapting to climate change is expensive. But if we do not take action now, adaptation is likely to become even more expensive, and we will impose greater burdens on future generations. The Government must address the question of how the costs of adaptation should be shared between current and future generations. The taxpayer will bear some of the costs but additional sources of predictable and sustainable funding are needed. Communities and individuals have been willing to pay, for example for flood defences when they have understood the reasons for action, and have been involved in deciding what should be done.
The Government, and the country as a whole, face difficult choices. There are trade-offs between policy objectives and adaptation actions. It is not possible to address all climate change risks. Decisions have to be taken on what and who should be protected from the impacts of climate change. Those who are worst affected by climate change, such as those who lose their homes, may need public support. The Government should make clear the limits of public liability: doing so will encourage people to take action to address the risks they face.
The planning system has a key role in adapting the built environment. New developments should only be approved if they are suited to future climates and do not increase risks to others. Developers should be required to make a greater contribution to improving the general resilience, and thus the sustainability, of communities.
While the planning system addresses new homes, existing homes also need to be adapted so they are habitable and comfortable during hotter summers and better protected against the increasing risk of flooding. The Government should strengthen incentives for people to adapt their properties and should help them take action. Local agencies should be enabled to provide integrated retrofitting programmes covering adaptation, water efficiency and energy efficiency.
Since 2008, the Government has made good progress in laying the foundations for action on adaptation. The Government must build on current momentum and encourage and support all levels of government, business and the general public to respond to climate change risks. Uncertainty over the impacts of climate change is not a reason for inaction or delay. The country needs to respond flexibly to the risks we face. The Government will need to move quickly to strengthen its new policy framework if it does not lead to the urgent action that is now required. It is vital that we give much more attention to adaptation.
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