Next steps for climate adaptation and resilience in the UK

It will bring together policymakers and key stakeholders to discuss the practical implications of identified climate risks for infrastructure, businesses, services and communities, including priorities and options for responding to the growing impacts of heat, flooding and water stress. Delegates will consider approaches to setting resilience expectations, improving coordination and supporting investment and delivery across the public and private sectors.

Drawing on the CCC's recently published Fourth Independent Assessment of UK Climate Risk, A Well-Adapted UK, delegates will consider the implications of intensifying climate impacts and the report’s estimate of an annual adaptation investment requirement of around £11bn for policy, investment and delivery. They will assess the practicalities of responding to the CCC’s recommendations, strengthening governance, and aligning national standards with local capacity.

The agenda will examine key areas that will need to be addressed in NAP4 with discussion expected on how priorities, responsibilities and measurable objectives might be defined, and how stakeholder experience and evidence can inform its development. This will be considered in the context of the Government’s preparations for the Fourth Climate Change Risk Assessment, due to be laid in January 2027, continuing delivery of NAP3, and the recently announced funding of up to £30m to strengthen the adaptation evidence base. Sessions will also consider how responsibilities might be shared across government, regulators, infrastructure operators and local authorities, as well as what is needed to support long-term decision making, investment and community preparedness.

Climate risk & adaptation planning

Discussion will consider how climate risk should be reflected in adaptation planning and decision-making across government, infrastructure and essential services. Delegates will assess priorities for strengthening preparedness at national and local level, including coordination between policies, sectors and delivery bodies.

Areas for discussion include:

• long‑term planning: implications of the Government’s planning assumption of a minimum of 2°C of global warming by 2050 - how it should inform NAP4, national and local planning
• systemic risk: identifying and prioritising interdependent climate risks - preparing for combined and cascading impacts across sectors and infrastructure networks
• policy alignment: connecting adaptation planning with wider climate and net zero policy
• essential services: impacts of heat, flooding and water stress on critical services and local authority functions - strength and continuity of resilience across public infrastructure

Standards, governance & accountability

Sessions will examine priorities for embedding adaptation across policy, regulation and investment frameworks, including clearer resilience expectations for infrastructure and services and the possible role of adaptation duties. Delegates will explore approaches to improving climate data, reporting and decision‑making tools, and how governance and accountability might be strengthened across departments and regulators.

Areas for discussion include:

• standards and duties: minimum resilience standards - the role of adaptation duties
• improving climate data: reporting and decision-making tools - mandatory reporting - interoperability across datasets and modelling tools to support consistent planning
• governance: measurable objectives and targets - accountability for adaptation delivery - climate stress testing
• regulatory coherence and standards: consistent benchmarks across energy, water, transport, digital and housing systems - clarity and integration

Funding, investment & delivery

Discussion will assess the investment requirements for strengthening UK climate adaptation and resilience, including the CCC’s estimate of an annual adaptation investment need of around £11bn and the potential value of early action. Delegates will consider priorities for mobilising public and private finance, investment signals and regulatory incentives, alongside practical delivery challenges for investors, infrastructure owners and operators, businesses, government and local authorities.

Areas for discussion include:

• investment need: closing the adaptation funding gap - mobilising public and private finance - strengthening investment signals and regulatory incentives - reducing costs through early action
• value for money: assessing long‑term funding sustainability - avoided costs and whole-life asset considerations
• delivery capacity: workforce demands and skills needs - funding certainty across national and local bodies
• insurance: affordability and availability as climate risks intensify - planning and risk-sharing mechanisms - insurance implications for households and businesses

Communities, public services & preparedness

Sessions will explore how climate impacts affect communities and essential services, and what is needed to support preparedness, behaviour change and public engagement. Delegates will consider inequalities in exposure and vulnerability, the role of local government, and how resilience standards across infrastructure systems can support homes and workplaces, and the continuity of essential services such as schools and hospitals under climate stress.

Areas for discussion include:

• public attitudes: awareness of climate risk - support for community-level action - models for driving behaviour change
• vulnerability: community-level preparedness - addressing inequalities in exposure and vulnerability
• local government responsibilities: capacity for local adaptation planning and delivery - supporting essential services and community-level action - resource, skills and funding challenges