The second National
Adaptation Programme 2018 to 2023 setting out
an ambitious strategy for dealing with the effects of a
changing climate has been published by the government
today (Thursday).
It comes after the Climate Change
Risk Assessment was published in January
2017 and addresses the risks affecting
communities across England. It also sets out the
government’s ongoing investment and work to tackle
these risks.
This year marks the tenth
anniversary of the Climate Change Act
(2008) and the programme commits the
government, business and local communities to actions
recognising the trend towards warmer winters, hotter
summers and changing rainfall patterns.
The UK leads the world in tackling climate change –
since 1990 we have cut emissions by more than 40 per
cent while growing the economy by more than two thirds,
the best performance on a per person basis than any
other G7 nation.
Some of the work being carried out includes a programme
of work led by government to increase the security of
water supply, to mitigate the impact of drought and dry
weather events. This includes working with water
companies to facilitate the construction of large water
infrastructure, where it is needed, through the
development of the National Policy Statement for water
and engaging the public through strategies to reduce
demand.
Environment Minister, said:
Our changing climate is one of the most serious
environmental challenges that we face as a nation and
that is why we are taking joint action between
government, business and local communities. This work
is improving flood defences across the country and
securing our critical food and water supplies, so we
are climate ready. The latest National Adaptation
Programme will help us develop our long-term plans to
tackle these risks so we can continue our work to
protect the nation today and for future generations.
As part of the NAP, the government has set out a
strategy for inviting infrastructure operators to
report on the actions they are taking to adapt to
climate change.
The government will work with sectors and provide
support to organisations as they develop their
reporting processes, which will help them understand
and take action to address the impacts of climate on
their businesses. A full list of reporting
organisations will be published later in the year.
In the last reporting cycle, 86 organisations completed
adaptation reports. The Energy Networks
Association, the industry body of companies that
carry electricity and gas to UK homes and businesses,
reported under the Adaptation Reporting Power (ARP).
They identified very clearly the climate risks their
industry is facing, presented the risks and
opportunities arising and set out actions they are
implementing to adapt. For instance, they include work
on flooding adaptation, on reviewing critical industry
standards, and an ongoing monitoring of climate
impacts.
The NAP complements the government’s Clean Growth
Strategy which sets out how the whole country can
benefit from low carbon economic opportunities through
the creation of new technologies and new businesses,
which creates jobs and prosperity across the UK, while
meeting our ambitious national and targets to tackle
climate change.