United Kingdom: Climate change risk assessment 2017 - priorities for the next five years

The United Kingdom (UK) Climate Change Risk Assessment 2017 Evidence Report is the most up-to-date and comprehensive analysis of the risks and opportunities posed by climate change to the UK. It assesses the urgency of further action to tackle current and future risks, and realise opportunities. Almost sixty individual risks and opportunities have been assessed.

The report identifies the following risks for the country:

• flooding and coastal change risks;
• risks to health, wellbeing and productivity;
• risks of shortages in the public water supply;
• risks to natural capital;
• risks to domestic and internationla food production and trade;
• risks of new and emerging pests and diseases.

It also presents climate change-related opportunities:

• Milder winters should reduce the costs of heating homes and other buildings, helping to alleviate fuel poverty and reduce the number of winter deaths from cold.
• UK agriculture and forestry may be able to increase production with warmer weather and longer growing seasons.
• Economic opportunities for UK businesses may arise from an increase in demand for adaptation-related goods and services.