The Climate Change Committee (CCC) published “A Well Adapted UK” in May 2026 as part of the Fourth Independent Assessment of UK Climate Risk. The report sets out how the UK can prepare for more extreme weather in the decades ahead and highlights the need for coordinated action across government, businesses and communities.
The Climate Change Committee’s latest assessment warns that climate change is already affecting the UK’s security and wellbeing, with more severe impacts expected by mid century. Hotter summers could leave up to 92% of existing homes at risk of overheating, peak river flows could rise by up to 45%, and summer water shortfalls could exceed five billion litres per day, increasing the likelihood of drought and more frequent flooding. Without global emissions reductions, some of these risks could go beyond what the UK can manage through adaptation alone.
The report highlights that the UK was built for a climate that no longer exists. While global efforts to keep warming well below 2°C above pre industrial levels remain essential, the world is not currently on track. At a minimum, the UK should prepare for the weather extremes expected if global warming reaches 2°C above pre industrial levels by 2050, while recognising that higher levels of warming later in the century cannot be ruled out. Without adaptation, climate impacts could cost 1 to 5% of GDP by 2050, equal to £60 to £260 billion per year.
Recommended Actions
The CCC sets out detailed recommendations across 14 key systems, including:
- Health — improving heat resilience in hospitals and care homes.
- Homes and buildings — retrofitting for cooling and designing new buildings for future climates.
- Public services — ensuring essential services can continue operating during extreme weather.
- Energy and transport — protecting grids, rail and roads from heat and flooding.
- Land and food systems — supporting agricultural resilience and biodiversity.
- Water and wastewater — expanding storage, improving drainage and reducing demand.
The investment needed
The Committee estimates that around £11 billion per year of public and private investment is required to protect people, places and the economy. Early action is expected to generate long term savings in the tens of billions by avoiding damage, disruption and health impacts. Adaptation is presented as both economically rational and socially necessary, complementing efforts to reduce emissions.
You can read the full report here.