The Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) ‘A Well-Adapted UK’ report, the independent assessment for the Fourth Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA4), sets out a clear conclusion.

The UK’s climate is also continuing to change rapidly, with global average temperatures now around 1.4°C above pre-industrial levels and continuing to rise at record pace, meaning that impacts posed by climate change are likely to worsen in the future. The map below highlights the scale of temperature increase projected, with maximum temperature changes expected to reach over 3.5°C in some parts of southern England.

The CCC’s conclusion in their risk assessment is reinforced by recent conditions across the UK. In May 2026, the UK experienced its hottest May day on record, with temperatures reaching 34.8°C at Kew Gardens, surpassing the previous May record set in 1922. Temperatures above 33°C were recorded across large parts of southern England, with heat-health alerts issued and widespread disruption to transport and local services.

For local authorities and public sector organisations, this shifts adaptation from a long-term planning concern into a near-term operational requirement. The systems that underpin daily life are already under stress, and that pressure will increase significantly over the coming decades.

A rapidly narrowing window for manageable adaptation

The CCC projects that by 2050, the UK will face a climate that is fundamentally more extreme than today. The assessment suggests that at a minimum, the UK must prepare for global warming at 2°C above preindustrial levels, and that the impacts of reaching 4°C above preindustrial levels should also be considered as part of effective adaptation planning.

At higher levels of warming, the report warns that some impacts may become increasingly difficult to manage through adaptation alone, highlighting the importance of also accelerating climate mitigation efforts alongside adaptation planning, to prevent unprecedented increases in global temperatures.

The growing adaptation gap

The CCC identifies a persistent gap between rising climate risk and the pace of adaptation. Across most sectors, progress is described as slow, fragmented, and not yet embedded into core investment decisions.

Key issues raised include:

• Climate risks increasing faster than adaptation measures are being delivered
• Infrastructure systems remaining highly exposed to heat and flooding
• Buildings not consistently designed for future climate conditions
• Natural systems under continued pressure from land use change and climate stress

This gap matters because it increases the likelihood of avoidable damage, disruption and cost over time.

What this means for local authorities

Local authorities, combined authorities, housing providers, and public service organisations sit at the centre of climate risk, being responsible for housing, planning, infrastructure coordination and emergency response. The CCC makes clear that adaptation needs to be embedded across all core functions of local government to ensure effective delivery.

Investing in robust adaptation planning now brings long-term cost savings for local authorities and public sector organisations. Proactive planning helps to reduce exposure to the far greater costs of emergency repairs, service disruption, increased demand on public health and housing, and the long-term consequences of unmanaged climate risk on communities and assets.

Protecting people from climate related risks

The CCC report sets out the key climate risks that the UK are currently facing, and highlights how this is expected to intensify by 2050. The table below provides a summary of those risks, their projected impacts, and the adaptation priorities identified by the CCC.

The scale of investment required

The CCC estimates that adapting the UK will require around £11 billion per year on average (ranging from £7–£22 billion, at 2025 prices). This investment is concentrated in cooling and heat resilience, flood protection, and water infrastructure and efficiency. If deployed at scale, the CCC estimates that these three adaptations could save tens of billions of pounds in climate impacts each year.

What needs to change

The CCC concludes that the UK already knows what needs to be done, the challenge is delivering adaptation at scale and pace. Key requirements for ensuring effective adaptation delivery include:

• Ensuring clear adaptation objectives with measurable targets
• Defined ownership across government
• Funded delivery plans
• Strengthening monitoring and reporting
• Better integration of risk into planning and investment decisions

Our reflection

The A Well-Adapted UK report highlights the growing urgency of climate adaptation. The UK is already experiencing the effects of climate change, including record-breaking temperatures, infrastructure disruption, and increasing pressure on public services. These impacts are expected to become more severe and frequent over time, even under moderate warming scenarios.

For local authorities and public sector organisations, adaptation must be embedded at the centre of planning, investment, and service delivery. This requires moving beyond compliance with statutory requirements, such as Strategic Flood Risk Assessments, towards a more proactive and integrated approach to climate resilience. Given the interconnected nature of climate hazards and the complexity of the climate system, a coordinated strategy that addresses multiple risks simultaneously is essential.

City Science supports local authorities with this proactive adaptation planning. By integrating geospatial climate risk modelling with stakeholder-led co-design, we develop adaptation actions that reflect both robust evidence and local priorities, creating practical strategies that enhance the long-term resilience of communities, businesses, critical services, and the natural environment.