The impacts of climate change are being felt by us all today. We’re experiencing hotter and more frequent heatwaves, rising sea levels, and heavier, more intense rainfall. 

From flooding, to drought, to wildfires – we’re seeing devastating consequences of ongoing climate change, both in the UK and around the world. Further climate change is inevitable, and without action, worsening impacts will come too. 

Addressing climate risks

The UK Government must assess climate risks every five years, and the next risk assessment is due in January 2027. This risk assessment forms the basis for the UK Government and devolved administrations in planning actions to adapt to the impacts of climate change. 

The Climate Change Committee (CCC) provides independent advice on climate risks, and today they have published this in their latest report, "A Well-Adapted UK".

This report brings hope and opportunity. For the first time, the CCC has set out advice on possible solutions to address climate risks. 

The report is packed full of possible actions across all systems - such as health, communities, land and sea.  It also makes it clear that the solutions already exist, but we need to deploy them at scale – and quickly. 

Supporting nature is a priority

Supporting nature is highlighted as one of the eight priority climate risks and immediate recommendations for the government to address: 

1. Protecting from heat
2. Managing flood risk
3. Avoiding water shortages
4. Supporting nature to adapt
5. Keeping farming viable
6. Understanding the risks to food security
7. Maintaining access to insurance
8. Adapting infrastructure to avoid cascading disruption 

The report emphasises how nature-based solutions not only reduce climate risk, but also have wider benefits, for example, to our health, wellbeing and communities. They often have strong public support, with recent polling finding that nature-based solutions were the preferred adaptation approach, even if higher cost. 

We also know that the public care about nature and climate change. Climate Outreach asked people which climate change impacts they are most worried about over the next 10 years. The highest by a significant amount was ‘harm to nature and wildlife’ with 41% selecting this as one of their top three worries.

The benefits of nature-based solutions

Nature recovery

Nature recovery work across The Wildlife Trusts is supporting nature to adapt across peatland, grassland, woodland, freshwater, marine and coastal habitats. 

Green spaces and natural shading

Green spaces and natural shading can help protect people from heat. As part of the Neighbourhoods Green Initiative, London Wildlife Trust’s “A Cool Place to Live” guide showcases how natural approaches such as green roofs, rain gardens, and green walls help keep homes cool during summer heatwaves and reduce the risk of flooding. 

Natural flood management

Natural flood management* is essential to managing flood risk. Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust’s Waterscapes project created leaky dams, wetlands, and sustainable drainage systems, such as rain gardens, which slow the flow of water and reduce flood risk in vulnerable communities. The first phase means nearly 3 million litres of water can be stored during heavy rainfall events, and the financial benefit is valued at £2.99 million over ten years, and £6.79 million over 30 years. 

Reintroducing beavers

Reintroducing beavers as natural ecosystem engineers can help manage flood risk and avoid water shortages. 

Increasing on-farm biodiversity

Increasing on-farm biodiversity to support nature to adapt can help keep farming viable through supporting pollination, pest control, water filtration, providing shade or shelter, and reducing soil erosion. Herefordshire Wildlife Trust’s Wye Adapt to Climate Change project is helping farmers consider how their land holdings can be made more resilient to climate change. Some of the measures taken on farms include tree planting, hedgerow restoration, leaky dams, ponds, and meadow restoration.

We have the tools. Now we need urgent action

Adapting to climate change cannot wait and we have the tools we need. Nature is our strongest defence against climate change. Nature is not an optional extra – it is a necessity. We hope the Well Adapted UK report kickstarts the delivery of change as intended, and the government accelerates work to both support nature and implement nature-based solutions at scale.   

*Natural flood management includes:  

• Planting trees, hedgerows, woodland: to capture rainwater before it hits the ground, slow overland flow, and increase water storage below ground 

• Bringing back beavers: their activities store water in the landscape through building dams, digging channels and more 

• Creating ponds and wetlands: to collect water, and hold it in wet periods  

• Restoring peat bogs: which can hold vast amounts of water  

• Regenerating soils and wilder grasslands: improving soil structure allows rainfall to penetrate the surface, and rough, tussocky grasslands are more effective at storing water than intensively managed grasslands  

• Constructing leaky dams or log diverters: to release water slowly and to move waters out onto flood plains rather than build up in a river  

• Restoring rivers: re-engineering or modifying a river’s course to restore its natural meandering shape or to improve its ecological health mitigates high flow events  

• Sustainable Drainage Schemes: measures to increase water infiltration in urban areas such as de-paving, ponds or vegetated ditches (bio-swales)