The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has echoed concerns raised by the Climate Change Committee (CCC) which says the “British way of life under threat from heat, flooding and drought”.

The ICE statement was released following the publication of the Climate Change Committee’s report A Well-Adapted UK, today (20 May.)

The country’s independent climate advisors identify better cooling, flood protection and a more secure water supply as the most critical priorities to protect the UK from the three biggest climate risks – heat, flooding and drought.

“We are already seeing disruption today and without action these risks will escalate, said a CCC statement.

“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 said the cost of climate change to public welfare is predicted to rise to between 1-5% of UK GDP by 2050 under a 2°C global warming level, equivalent to £60-£260bn per year.

“Climate change is undermining the UK’s security and prosperity. We are already experiencing serious impacts now, and further impacts are inevitable,” said the report.

“By the middle of the century, the UK’s climate will be much more extreme than today. Hotter heatwaves could see 92% of existing homes overheat, creating dangerous conditions for vulnerable people.”

It continued: “Peak river flows will be up to 45% higher, last longer, and be seen more frequently, driving increased flooding.

“Drier summers will mean shortfalls in water supply could reach over five billion litres per day, making drought more widespread. Without global emissions reductions, these risks may go past the point where the UK can protect itself with adaptation measures.”

The report also calls on the government to adapt the UK’s infrastructure “to avoid cascading disruption” and to “design and maintain transport, energy and telecommunications systems to operate safely under future climate conditions”.

“Government and regulators must take a more structured approach to managing dependencies between infrastructure systems to avoid widespread disruption,” it said.

ICE director of policy and external affairs Sam Gould said: “Today’s report reiterates what we already know.

“Our climate is changing and we’re not adapting quickly enough. The CCC is right to say we are in a ‘critical window’ for water, energy and transport. The investment happening now must translate into well-adapted infrastructure.”

Gould added: “To help decision makers prioritise what needs to be done, and to help guide investors, the ICE has previously recommended that the UK Government undertake a review of the economics of adaptation.

“This would help put clearer figures on associated costs and contribute to the more structured approach the CCC is calling for.”

The ICE is currently running a consultation on how to approach such a review and will share its findings later this year.

The report sets out guidance for the government on how to adapt to the challenges of climate change, these include:

  • Protecting people from heat
  • Managing flood risk
  • Avoiding water shortages
  • Helping nature to adapt
  • Supporting farming
  • Understanding the risks to food security
  • Adapting infrastructure

Image: Lindley Wood Reservoir, in North Yorkshire.

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