Climate change risk assessments

This is based on the Independent Assessment of UK Climate Risk, the statutory advice provided by the Climate Change Committee (CCC), commissioned by the UK government and devolved administrations.

The risk assessment considers sixty-one UK-wide climate risks and opportunities cutting across multiple sectors of the economy and prioritises the following eight risk areas for action:

• risks to the viability and diversity of terrestrial and freshwater habitats and species from multiple hazards
• risks to soil health from increased flooding and drought
• risks to natural carbon stores and sequestration from multiple hazards
• risks to crops, livestock and commercial trees from multiple climate hazards
• risks to supply of food, goods and vital services due to climate-related collapse of supply chains and distribution networks
• risks to people and the economy from climate-related failure of the power system
• risks to human health, wellbeing and productivity from increased exposure to heat in homes and other buildings
• multiple risks to the UK from climate change impacts overseas

For the full report please visit the UK Climate Change Risk Assesment 2022 (publishing.service.gov.uk)

We were one of three authorities taking part in a research project called 'Adaptation Pathways' with Cardiff University to analyse the 61 risk assessments. The aim of this research was to support local organisations and community leaders to understand likely impacts, sufficiency of current planning and identify specific forward actions to build climate resilience.