Climate Change Committee’s Fourth Independent Assessment of UK Climate Risk

That this House notes with deep concern the findings of the Climate Change Committee’s Fourth Independent Assessment of UK Climate Risk, A Well-Adapted UK; is alarmed that, by 2050, 92% of homes could be at risk of overheating, peak river flows could rise by up to 45%, annual flood damage already costs an estimated £3.3 billion, water shortfalls could exceed five billion litres per day, and high-quality agricultural land could decline significantly; further notes that global warming of 4°C cannot be ruled out and that climate change is already affecting food production, infrastructure and public health; recognises that successive governments have failed to adequately prepare the UK for the impacts of climate change, leaving communities increasingly exposed to flooding, drought, wildfires and extreme heat; calls on the Government to urgently review the resilience of hospitals, care homes and other critical public services during extreme weather events; further calls on the Government to develop and implement a comprehensive national climate adaptation strategy embedding resilience across all Government departments and public bodies; supports long-term investment in local climate resilience measures, including nature-based flood management, sustainable drainage, building retrofits and urban greening; urges the introduction of resilience standards across the energy, water, transport and telecommunications sectors; and also calls on the Government to introduce a Good Food Bill establishing a statutory framework for food security and supporting farmers to adopt resilient and sustainable practices through an additional £1 billion investment in the farming budget.