A report from the Climate Change Committee (CCC) has claimed that there is “unequivocal evidence” that climate change is making extreme weather in the UK more likely and more extreme.
It also claimed that the UK is not appropriately prepared for climate change, and there has been no change in addressing the risk with the change in government.
The CCC believes that over half of England’s top quality agricultural land is at risk of flooding, with a further increase in total agricultural land at risk expected by 2050.
According to the CCC’s estimations, unchecked climate change could impact UK economic output by up to 7% of GDP by 2050, which would create challenges for driving sustainable long-term growth across the country.
Chair of the adaptation committee, Baroness Brown said: “We have seen in the last couple of years that the country is not prepared for the impacts of climate change. We know there is worse to come, and we are not ready.
“We can see our country changing before our eyes. People are having to cope with more regular extreme weather impacts. People are experiencing increasing food prices. People are worried about vulnerable family members during heatwaves.”
“Ineffective and outdated ways of working within government are holding back the country’s ability to be future-fit. Is this government going to face up to the reality of the our situation? Failing to act will impact every family and every person in the country,” she added.
CCC report
The Rivers Trust has claimed that the CCC’s report highlights the “drastic economic and social cost” that will arise in the coming decades due to the lack of “resilience”.
Chief executive of the Rivers Trust, Mark Lloyd said: “Urgent and widespread action is needed to slow the flow of water through the landscape to reduce flood risk and restore groundwater aquifers so that they can keep rivers flowing, and taps running, during times of drought.
“This involves actions such as restoring healthy soils, planting more trees, re-wiggling straightened rivers, reducing livestock numbers, restoring wetlands and ponds, and installing sustainable drainage schemes as standard in all new developments.”
“This is not work that can be put off until the future, it needs to start immediately and at scale, or we will pay a huge price.
“These actions will also make a major contribution to reversing the rapid decline in wildlife, greening urban areas, reducing water pollution from agriculture, and meeting our net zero obligations,” he added.
