Climate change in the UK

In April 2025, The Climate Change Committee published a report ‘Progress in adapting to climate change: 2025 report to Parliament’ which highlights that there is now clear and compelling evidence that climate change is causing extreme weather events in the UK, such as heatwaves, heavy rainfall, and wildfire-prone conditions, which are more frequent and severe.

From October 2022 to March 2024, England experienced its wettest 18-month period on record. Large areas of farmland remained submerged for extended periods, leading to the second-worst arable harvest since modern records began. This followed the record-breaking summer of 2022, when temperatures exceeded 40°C for the first time in many areas and resulted in nearly 3,000 heat-related deaths in England. The same hot and dry conditions triggered an unprecedented number of wildfires, with fire and rescue services declaring major incidents after a 500% surge in emergency calls in July 2022.

Globally, 2024 saw the planet temporarily exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial temperatures, marking rapid progress toward the lower threshold of the Paris Agreement’s goals. With human-driven climate change accelerating, the UK’s climate is shifting faster than ever before. Winters will become warmer and wetter, increasing the flood risk to homes, agriculture, and infrastructure. Summers are projected to be hotter and drier, intensifying heatwaves and droughts, while raising the risk of surface water flooding when rainfall does occur. Sea levels around the UK will continue to rise for centuries, further compounding these challenges.

Urgent adaptation required

These escalating changes pose growing risks to all aspects of society. Immediate, large-scale adaptation is needed to prevent these risks from reaching unmanageable levels. Key risks include:

• Nature and food production: Extreme weather; heat, drought, and flooding, will make agricultural planning more difficult. Over half of England’s highest-quality agricultural land is already at risk of flooding, with this expected to increase by 2050.
• Infrastructure disruption: Over one-third of UK railways and roads are currently at flood risk; a figure projected to rise to nearly half by 2050. Heat can warp railway lines and sag power cables, while droughts increasingly threaten summer water supplies. Failures in one system can cascade, disrupting others.
• Property damage and overheating: Currently, 6.3 million properties in England are located in areas at risk from flooding by rivers, the sea, or surface water. This could rise to 8 million; 25% of all properties by 2050. Sea level rise will increase coastal erosion and flooding, potentially threatening between 5,000 and 45,000 properties. Urban areas will face more extreme heat, making many buildings dangerously hot during summer.
• Public health: Heat-related deaths already number in the thousands annually and could rise above 10,000 per year by 2050 due to both climate change and a growing, ageing population. Many hospitals already struggle to function during heatwaves, with impacts such as unusable operating theatres and reduced staff productivity.
• Economic impact: Unmitigated climate change could reduce UK GDP by up to 7% by 2050, posing serious challenges to sustainable growth. Recent years have seen growing insurance claims and disruptions to productivity and supply chains.

Without stronger adaptation policies now, the UK risks locking in future climate vulnerabilities or worsening them. Rapid, high-quality adaptation is essential to manage these challenges efficiently and cost-effectively.

How climate change in the UK affects health and wellbeing in more detail:

Heat-related mortality is rising in the UK, and the NHS has experienced increasing reports of overheating and flooding. However, there is limited data on the broader impact of extreme weather on healthcare delivery, particularly in settings like care homes, GP practices, and domiciliary care.

The UK Health Security Agency’s Adverse Weather and Health Plan provides a solid foundation by outlining responsibilities across different government levels. Still, it must evolve to address the full spectrum of climate risks and enable robust monitoring of health adaptation. The Government’s planned 10-year strategy for a climate-resilient NHS must ensure healthcare infrastructure and planning are adequately prepared for climate extremes.

How climate change in the UK impacts economic resilience

Businesses across sectors are feeling the effects of climate change, from increased insurance claims to supply chain disruptions and productivity losses. While many organisations and financial institutions are working to boost resilience, significant barriers remain; most notably, the availability of reliable information and access to financing for adaptation. Also, how the knock on effect can affect every part of the product supply chain from manufacturing to transport logistics.