The UK Climate Change Adaptation Policy Framework

The UK Climate Change Adaptation Policy Framework Presented by: Dr. Andy Russell, School of Geography, QMUL Date: 03 May 2022 The Climate Change Act 2008 Mitigation: - Legal target to reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions by 80% (net-100%) from 1990 levels by 2050 - Requires Government to set carbon budgets as a pathway to get to the 2050 target (six so far, up to 2035). Adaptation: - Requirement for Government to publish a UK climate change risk assessment every five years - And then a National Adaptation Programs that addresses the risks - The Act also set up the Committee on Climate Change. Driving Forwards On Mitigation! 1. A Goal: 2050 Emissions Target 2. A Pathway: Carbon Budgets 3. A Toolkit: Requirement that Government brings forward policies 4. A Monitoring Framework: Committee on Climate Change to monitor progress and suggest changes Stumbling Around On Adaptation? 1. A Goal: Addressing the CCRA risks? 2. A Pathway: National Adaptation Programs? 3. A Toolkit: National Adaptation Programs? 4. A Monitoring Framework: Committee on Climate Change to monitor progress and suggest changes The Committee on Climate Change Mitigation: - To provide independent advice on the levels of GHG emission reduction targets - To report to Parliament on progress in meeting emission reduction targets - 8 members of the Committee with specific areas of expertise who meet monthly - Secretariat of around 20 technical experts who work on analysis year round - Carbon Budget every 5 years - CCC monitors progress every year Adaptation: - To provide independent advice on climate risks and opportunities - To report to Parliament on progress in preparing for climate change - 6 members of the Committee with specific areas of expertise who meet monthly - Secretariat of around 5 technical experts who work on analysis year round Climate Change Adaptation Mitigation: - Carbon Budget every 5 years - CCC monitors progress every year Adaptation: - CCRA every 5 years - NAP every 5 years - CCC monitors progress once every 2 years CCRA3 Time period 2020, 2050, 2100 Risks to the viability and Key policy areas Biodiversity, sol and water Time period 2020, 2050, 2100 diversity of terrestrial and freshwater habitats and species from multiple hazards Risks to soil health from increased flooding and drought Risks to natural carbon stores and sequestration from multiple hazards leading to increased emissions Risks to crops, livestock and commercial trees from multiple hazards Risks to supply of food, goods and vital services due to climate-related collapse of supply chains and distribution networks Risks to people and the economy from climaterelated failure of the power system Risks to human health, wellbeing and productivity from increased exposure to heat in homes and other buildings Multiple risks to the UK from climate change impacts overseas CCRA2 Flooding and coastal change risks to communities, businesses and infrastructure Risks to health, wellbeing and productivity from high temperatures Risk of shortages in the public water supply, and for agriculture, energy generation and Key policy areas protection and restoration environmental land management, sustainable farming and forestry, Net Zero, green finance Public procurement, business resilience Infrastructure, energy. Net Zero Building regulations and strategies, planning reform National resilience, overseas aid, research and capacity building industry MORE ACTION NEEDED Risks to natural capital, including terrestrial, coastal, marine and freshwater ecosystems, soils and biodiversity Risks to domestic and international food production and trade New and emerging pests and diseases, and invasive non-native species, affecting people, RESEARCH PRIORITY plants and animals NOW ............................................FUTURE Progress Report Summary 2019 Progress Report: High level analysis The Government has failed to increase adaptation policy ambition and implementation through its latest National Adaptation Programs - despite the increasing urgency of addressing the risks from climate change. Monitoring Progress In Flood And Coastal Erosion Risk Management What are the problems with government FCERM policies? 1. No clear targets or ambitions FCERM policies. 2. National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy does not address coastal erosion well. a. Poor data on historic losses to coastal erosion b. Poor projections of future coastal erosion c. Losses to coastal erosion cannot be compensated or insured against and there is no requirement to check risk when buying a property. 3. Overly complex governance. 4. Surface water flooding falls between departments/agencies/LAs. 5. Value interventions very poorly. 6. Vague. SMART? "... to reduce the risk of harm to people, the environment and the economy from natural hazards including flooding and coastal erosion by taking appropriate action." (Defra, 2018a, b) 7. Evidence based? "...to better protect 336,000 properties by 2027..." (Defra, 2021) 8. Are we really addressing the risks we face? 9. BA Innovation Fellowship: a. Analyze FRM policies, plans and strategies to develop a map of current goals or targets. b. Survey and interview FRM policymakers, practitioners and experts on their interpretation of targets. c. Develop a suite of quantified, evidence-based FRM targets. Monitoring Progress In Flood And Coastal Erosion Risk Management: Coastal Erosion Coastal Adaptation  Investigate what assets are likely to be at risk from flooding and coastal erosion in the present day and in the future  Review the policy framework for managing coastal flood and erosion risk in England and to assess the effectiveness of the implementation of those policies  Perform a national cost-benefit analysis of the SMP policy decisions Monitoring Progress In Flood And Coastal Erosion Risk Management: Governance  Coastal management is covered by a complex patchwork of legislation and by a variety of organizations with different responsibilities.  The current policy decisions on the long-term future of England's coastline cannot be relied upon as they are non-statutory plans containing unfunded proposals. Conclusions  England has an excellent climate change adaptation policy framework.  However, this is let down by poor implementation of the National Adaptation Programs.  As a result, overarching climate change adaptation ambitions do not exist and targets/goals/policies are distributed sub- optimally across organizations, scales and documents.