Adapt to thrive: preparing the UK for climate change
Think tank: Green Alliance
Author(s): Johann Beckford; Cath Smith; Blanche Shackleton
July 11, 2025
This report from UK think tank Green Alliance presents a roadmap forward for urgent, supportive action for the government’s growth and security agenda.
Climate change impacts are already disrupting lives and undermining economic growth across the UK. Health warnings were issued during the June 2025 heatwave due to expected excess deaths, while millions of English homes face flooding risks. Current estimates suggest flooding costs £2.4 billion per year, with the potential to rise to £3.6 billion by 2050. Despite these mounting pressures, the UK remains woefully unprepared.
In this report, we demonstrate that two thirds of current government actions to tackle the most pressing climate risks are inadequate for the scale of the challenge. We present a roadmap forward for urgent action that would support the government’s growth and security agenda while protecting communities.
Our analysis outlines smart adaptation measures are an “invest to save” opportunity, generating economic activity while protecting communities from escalating climate impacts.
