The Commission in its report accuses the government of a “lost decade” and that it has left the country exposed due to “lukewarm planning and preparation”.
London, Thanasis Gavos
The UK’s preparedness in many sectors vulnerable to climate threats is falling well short of the required level due to a failure to adapt to the data, says a new report by the Commission on Climate Change (CCC), which regularly advises the UK government.
The Commission accuses the government of a “lost decade” and that it has left the country exposed due to “lukewarm planning and preparation”.
Among other things, it is noted that the necessary preparations have not been made to deal with the effects of climate change in critical areas such as the protection of the food chain, the water network, transport, public health, business, agriculture and the financial system.
Of the 45 individual climate change adaptation targets set by the government, only five are accompanied by credible plans according to the CCC report.
Even for these five goals, however, there is no clear evidence of adequate action being taken.
As the report highlights, “while we have seen some progress in planning for climate change, in reality there is still little evidence of its practical impact.”
The commission points to last summer’s record temperatures, when the mercury topped 40C for the first time in Britain, as an example of the lack of preparation. During that time, between 1,000 and 3,000 heat-related deaths were recorded, 20% of hospital operations were postponed, rail services were disrupted, the country experienced extensive drought, and fires broke out that destroyed dozens of homes.
“The lack of a compelling government response to climate resilience stands in stark contrast to the recent experiences of the citizens of this country. People, nature and infrastructure face a devastating impact as climate change takes hold. This impact will only intensify in the coming decades,” the CCC warns.
The report warns that even if international environmental targets are met, the atmosphere will continue to warm for the next 30 years, causing more unstable climate conditions.
However, the UK Government’s National Adaptation Program (NAP) is not rising to the occasion and the challenges due to a lack of ‘vision’, tangible targets and a practical implementation guide from government departments.
Therefore, the second NAP update expected this summer is being called a “defining moment” to prevent another five lost years.
Source: Skai
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