Putting people at the centre of UK climate adaptation & resilience

This report synthesises social science evidence on climate adaptation and resilience for UK policymakers. Produced by the ACCESS Task Force and co-chaired by the Government Office for Science, it draws on a synthesis of published social science research, expert inputs, and two workshops. Six real-world UK and international case studies and a set of practical tools illustrate how social science methods—such as qualitative interviews, stakeholder engagement, and systems analysis—reveal the human, behavioural, and governance dimensions of adaptation. The report addresses the impacts of climate change in the UK and highlights adaptation as an ongoing social process, shaped by people’s lived experiences, vulnerabilities, and social context. Its scope covers the UK primarily, with additional examples from global contexts like Bangladesh.

Key findings include:

• Effective adaptation depends on considering how people understand both climate risks and solutions—not just technical design.
• Adaptation requirements will change over time as people's exposure and vulnerability to climate hazards evolves
• Adaptation is more effective when tailored to different people and places
• Joining up adaptation with other goals can lead to wider benefits
• Assess adaptation policies for unintended and unequal impacts