UK government releases research and innovation framework for climate change adaptation
The UK government has identified research and innovation challenges across 11 sectors that will need to be addressed in a bid to drive collaborative action on climate change adaptation.
The Climate Adaptation Research and Innovation Framework, published last week, was developed by the Government Office for Science and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
It ties cross-government and cross-sector research needs together for the first time, and has been designed to make it easier for government, industry, and research communities to work together to devise plans for adaptation.
The aim is to improve the UK’s assessment of climate risk, support policy and implementation decisions, and to drive innovative adaptation solutions.
Climate resilience “is not a singular issue but an interconnected systems challenge involving infrastructure, ecosystems, health, finance, data and governance,” Angela McLean, government chief scientific adviser, and Gideon Henderson, Defra’s chief scientific adviser, said in the foreword of the framework.
While in many cases “the action we need to take is clear… elsewhere, we need new research to inform our adaptation response, and innovation to improve how effectively and affordably we ready systems for change,” they said.
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Goals, outcomes, challenges and needs
The 11 sectors covered in the framework – originally identified by the Climate Change Committee in a 2023 report – are: nature; working land and seas; food security; water supply; energy; telecommunications and ICT; transport; towns and cities and community preparedness/response; buildings; health; and business and finance.
In each of these sectors, the framework outlines an overall goal, main outcomes, the key government department responsible, and the research and innovation challenges and related needs.
For example, in the nature section, a “natural environment resilient to impacts under a changing climate” is the overall goal, with “larger, more connected, more diverse, more protected and more resilient” habitats one of five main outcomes.
The research and innovation challenges across all 11 sectors are listed under ‘risk assessment’, ‘decision and support solutions’, and ‘data needs’.
In the energy sector, risk assessment research and innovation needs include infrastructure resilience; ecosystem capacity; heating and cooling demand; and wind and solar energy, and bioenergy.
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Better prepared
“By fostering collaboration across the public and private sectors, we can accelerate the development and deployment of adaptation measures, leaving us better prepared for climate risks while unlocking economic and social opportunities,” the report said.
The report also notes that by investing in research and innovation, the UK can develop adaptive measures that “not only address climate challenges but also advance the UK government’s five national missions”. These include making Britain a clean energy superpower and kickstarting economic growth.
It notes that the effects of climate change will not be felt evenly across society and that those who are “economically vulnerable and socially marginalised” are likely to be most affected. “Climate adaptation research and innovation needs to consider these socio-economic vulnerabilities so that adaption does not introduce or reinforce social inequalities,” the framework said.
Information on climate risks and responses to come from research and innovation should be made widely available in an accessible format. “This can enable local decision-makers and members of the public to take evidence-based adaptation actions,” it said.
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About Mia Hunt
Mia has been editor of globalgovernmentforum.com since 2019. She has 15 years’ experience as a journalist and editor and specialises in writing for civil and public servants worldwide, including covering sustainability policy and related issues. She has led the Global Government Women’s Network since it launched in 2023. Previously, she covered commercial property having been market reports and supplements editor at Property Week and deputy editor at Retail Destination. She graduated from Kingston University London with a first-class honours degree in journalism and was part of the team that produced The River newspaper, which won Publication of the Year at the Guardian Student Media Awards in 2010.
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