A well-adapted UK – report by the Climate Change Committee (CCC)
The Climate Change Committee (CCC) is the UK’s independent adviser on tackling climate change. The CCC was established under the Climate Change Act 2008 and advises the UK and devolved governments on reducing emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change.
Every five years the UK Government must assess the risks posed by climate change, and the CCC provides independent advice to inform the UK Government’s assessment.
In May 2026 the CCC published a report called A Well-Adapted UK.For the first time, the Committee has offered advice on potential solutions to address climate risks because what governments have done on adaptation to date is clearly not working.
In her foreword the Chair of the Adaptation Committee, Baroness Brown writes:
“When the four UK governments publish their next national adaptation plans, it will be 20 years on from the passage of the Climate Change Act. To date, they have not been fit for purpose. But with this solution-focused report, we aim to leave no room for ambiguity. Whether or not to prepare for the changing climate is now solely a political choice”.
The UK was built for a climate that no longer exists and will be increasingly distant in years to come. We are already seeing disruption and without action these risks will escalate. By 2050, 92% of homes are likely to overheat, peak river flows will be up to 45% higher and water supply shortfalls could exceed five billion litres per day.
The report identifies the biggest climate risks facing the UK – heat, flooding and drought, and sets out proposed actions across 14 key systems to address their growing impact. The systems are; Health, Built environment and communities, Public services, Cultural heritage, Water and wastewater, Energy, Transport, Waste, Digital and telecoms, Land, Sea, Food security, Economy and finance, National security and international engagement.
The report is about hope, not fear, and focuses on solutions rather than risks. While climate change and adaptation are complex, cost-effective adaptation solutions can be deployed today using proven technologies or known changes in practices and approaches. In addition, there is clear evidence that well-designed adaptation plans can deliver strong returns through reducing future climate damages.
The report defines ten principles for effective adaptation, grouped into 4 steps, which can be applied at a range of scales across the 14 systems.
The proposed adaptation approach for each of the systems is further broken down into Policies, Enablers and Actions required to deliver the objectives of a “well-adapted” system.
The key message of the reports is “we largely know what is needed to prepare for climate risk – the challenge is deciding when and where to prioritise adaptation action and how to implement it”.