TO BE PUBLISHED December 2026
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This conference will assess next steps for strengthening climate adaptation and resilience in the UK. The agenda will look at priorities as the Government prepares to develop the Fourth National Adaptation Programme, with discussion on practical approaches to effective adaptation across governance and standards, financing and delivery, and societal and community resilience.
It will bring together policymakers and key stakeholders to discuss the practical implications of identified climate risks for infrastructure, businesses, services and communities, including priorities and options for responding to the growing impacts of heat, flooding and water stress. Delegates will consider approaches to setting resilience expectations, improving coordination and supporting investment and delivery across the public and private sectors.
Drawing on the CCC’s recently published Fourth Independent Assessment of UK Climate Risk, A Well-Adapted UK, delegates will consider the implications of intensifying climate impacts and the report’s estimate of an annual adaptation investment requirement of around £11bn for policy, investment and delivery. They will assess the practicalities of responding to the CCC’s recommendations, particularly in strengthening governance, and aligning national standards with local capacity.
The agenda will examine key areas that will need to be addressed in NAP4, with discussion expected on how priorities, responsibilities and measurable objectives might be defined, and how stakeholder experience and evidence can inform its development. This will be considered in the context of the Government’s preparations for the Fourth Climate Change Risk Assessment, due to be laid in January 2027, continuing delivery of NAP3, and the recently announced funding of up to £30m to strengthen the adaptation evidence base. Sessions will also consider how responsibilities might be shared across government, regulators, infrastructure operators and local authorities, as well as what is needed to support long-term decision making, investment and community preparedness.
Climate risk & adaptation planning
Discussion will consider how climate risk should be reflected in adaptation planning and decision-making across government, infrastructure and essential services. Delegates will assess priorities for strengthening preparedness at national and local level, including coordination between policies, sectors and delivery bodies.
Areas for discussion include:
- long‑term planning: implications of the Government’s planning assumption of a minimum of 2°C of global warming by 2050 - how it should inform NAP4, national and local planning
- systemic risk: identifying and prioritising interdependent climate risks - preparing for combined and cascading impacts across sectors and infrastructure networks
- flood defences: findings from the recently published Thames Estuary 2100: 15‑year Monitoring Review - acceleration of sea level rise - increased pressure on ageing flood defences - implications for long‑term resilience planning
- policy alignment: connecting adaptation planning with wider climate and net zero policy
- essential services: impacts of heat, flooding and water stress on critical services and local authority functions - strength and continuity of resilience across public infrastructure
Standards, governance & accountability
Sessions will examine priorities for embedding adaptation across policy, regulation and investment frameworks, including clearer resilience expectations for infrastructure and services and the possible role of adaptation duties. Delegates will explore approaches to improving climate data, reporting and decision‑making tools, and how governance and accountability might be strengthened across departments and regulators.
Areas for discussion include:
- standards and duties: minimum resilience standards - the role of adaptation duties
- improving climate data: reporting and decision-making tools - mandatory reporting - interoperability across datasets and modelling tools to support consistent planning
- governance: measurable objectives and targets - accountability for adaptation delivery - climate stress testing
- regulatory coherence and standards: consistent benchmarks across energy, water, transport, digital and housing systems - clarity and integration
Funding, investment & delivery
Discussion will assess the investment requirements for strengthening UK climate adaptation and resilience, including the CCC’s estimate of an annual adaptation investment need of around £11bn and the potential value of early action. Delegates will consider priorities for mobilising public and private finance, investment signals and regulatory incentives, alongside practical delivery challenges for investors, infrastructure owners and operators, businesses, government and local authorities.
Areas for discussion include:
- investment need: closing the adaptation funding gap - mobilising public and private finance - strengthening investment signals and regulatory incentives - reducing costs through early action
- value for money: assessing long‑term funding sustainability - avoided costs and whole-life asset considerations
- delivery capacity: workforce demands and skills needs - funding certainty across national and local bodies
- insurance: affordability and availability as climate risks intensify - planning and risk-sharing mechanisms - insurance implications for households and businesses
Communities, public services & preparedness
Sessions will explore how climate impacts affect communities and essential services, and what is needed to support preparedness, behaviour change and public engagement. Delegates will consider inequalities in exposure and vulnerability, the role of local government, and how resilience standards across infrastructure systems can support homes and workplaces, and the continuity of essential services such as schools and hospitals under climate stress.
Areas for discussion include:
- public attitudes: awareness of climate risk - support for community-level action - models for driving behaviour change
- vulnerability: community-level preparedness - addressing inequalities in exposure and vulnerability
- public engagement and social insight:
- anticipated establishment of the Government’s first Youth Climate and Nature Panel - strengthening youth engagement and collaboration between generations
- insights from the ESRC‑funded ACCESS Taskforce’s research Putting people at the centre of UK climate adaptation and resilience, supported by the Government Office for Science
- social aspects of adaptation - case studies and practical tools for policymakers
- local government responsibilities: capacity for local adaptation planning and delivery - supporting essential services and community-level action - resource, skills and funding challenges
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those already due to attend include parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons and officials from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, NI; Department of Health and Social Care; Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government; Department for Transport; Department for Education; Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade; Department for Infrastructure, NI; Department for the Economy, NI; Climate Change Committee; Environment Agency; Government Legal Department; HM Treasury; Ministry of Defence; Food Standards Agency; Government Office for Science; National Audit Office; Homes England; National Wealth Fund; Office for Environmental Protection; Marine Management Organisation; Ofwat; Maritime and Coastguard Agency; Transport Scotland; Isle of Man Government; the Welsh Government; and The Scottish Government.
