March 2026
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This conference examined recent developments and priorities for implementing climate change adaptation and resilience in the UK. Discussion focused on practical considerations for delivery, particularly for infrastructure planning, investment and operation.
It brought stakeholders and policymakers together to consider implications as national and local government plans - alongside those of regulators and infrastructure operators - advance for strengthening climate preparedness for critical infrastructure, vulnerable communities, and more widely across built and natural environments.
Policy, key developments & implications for delivery
In discussing the way forward, sessions drew on recommendations for adaptation strategies set out in the Climate Change Committee’s Progress in adapting to climate change report and the Government’s response, alongside the UK Resilience Action Plan, 10-year flood defence programme, continued implementation of the UK’s Third National Adaptation Programme and preparations for NAP4. Sessions addressed issues with delays in delivery and options for closing the delivery gap in NAP4.
Looking at implications for infrastructure and contingency planning, as well as investment decisions, we expected discussion on options for addressing stakeholder concerns that progress across sectors remains uneven - with gaps in monitoring and accountability - and on the adequacy in testing of current approaches against severe flooding, heatwaves and compound risk.
Milestones, coordination & funding
Options for setting clear, measurable and costed objectives and milestones in NAP3 and NAP4 were assessed, with discussion on integrating them into national, regional and local delivery plans, and developing governance and accountability arrangements that can support consistent implementation across sectors. Further areas for discussion included practical approaches to setting objectives that can be monitored consistently, with transparent lines of responsibility for delivery and performance.
Following publication of the Resilience Action Plan and 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy, and amidst concerns of fragmented responsibilities, the agenda assessed how best to embed a more holistic and interconnected approach to adaptation and resilience. This included where accountability is shared across national agencies, local bodies, and infrastructure operators - and frameworks for reducing duplication and closing gaps where risks such as flooding do not sit within single organisational remits.
Attendees considered practical approaches to integrating strengthened adaptation objectives into policy and funding streams, including extending the reach of the Adaptation Reporting Power, and appropriate scaling, targeting and timing of investment commitments in the 2025 Spending Review. Further questions included how to provide longer-term certainty for delivery bodies and supply chains, and how priorities are set where risks are becoming more acute but resources and delivery capacity are constrained.
Encouraging investment, monitoring climate risk & opportunities for AI
Further discussion considered how regulatory frameworks, price controls and planning processes might be deployed to incentivise both public and private adaptation and resilience-focused investment. Opportunities for supporting local delivery capacity and finance mechanisms were also explored, such as local climate bonds, multi-year place-based funding for delivering longer-term programmes, and options to give local bodies greater flexibility over funding and investment decisions.
Approaches to strengthening monitoring and reporting of climate risk and preparedness were considered, including lessons from the rollout of Taskforce for Climate-Related Financial Disclosures-aligned reporting and priorities for the forthcoming UK Sustainability Reporting Standards. Delegates looked at implications for investors, insurers and the public sector around data quality and comparability, including the role of voluntary reporting.
We also expected discussion on the application of technology to support organisations with transparency, data collection, understanding of risk and reporting, including blockchain, predictive modelling platforms, AI and early warning systems. Delegates considered what will be needed for workforce structures and skillsets to define responsibilities, interpret insights, make business cases and apply new strategies to enable improved climate initiatives.
Built environment & critical infrastructure
Sessions examined priorities for the rollout of the £10.5bn 10-year flood defence programme, with discussion on the impact of climate change and extreme weather on the built environment and critical infrastructure, particularly from increased flooding and coastal erosion, heatwaves, and droughts. Delegates also considered the physical and financial risks for local communities, including implications for insurance and affordability, and options for managing relocation, drawing on lessons from the Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme, and considering innovative approaches being taken forward under the new £30m Coastal Adaptation Pilots.
Alongside flooding and coastal erosion risk, we expected discussion on overheating and thermal comfort in existing and new housing, including implications for retrofit priorities, building standards and health outcomes, particularly for vulnerable groups, as well as alignment with objectives in the Warm Homes Plan for building decarbonisation and energy efficiency.
The preparedness of critical sectors was discussed, including transport, energy, water, and digital infrastructure. Areas for discussion included how to support an interconnected approach to embedding resilience measures, standardisation of data collection and reporting of risk across sectors, as well as protocols and standards for stress-testing and resilience measures.
We expected discussion on strategies for enabling coordination and collaboration across sectors, managing systemic risk and interdependencies in planning. Delegates also addressed challenges including economic barriers to decision-making linked to making improvements, taking a resilience-first approach and being adaptable to evolving risk and regulation, as well as overcoming issues in voluntary reporting creating gaps in risk coverage.
Innovation & integration
Sessions also looked at emerging research and innovation priorities for adaptation and resilience, including the 2025 Climate Adaptation Research and Innovation Framework and launch of the MACC Hub.
Further discussion was expected on priorities for improving the UK’s assessment of climate risk to inform decision-making, advancing innovative adaptation initiatives across sectors and supply chains, supporting the development and transfer of best practice in communities, and embedding adaptation and resilience in workforce skills to help support local authorities, infrastructure operators and financial institutions.
All delegates were 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 who attended include 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; Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government; Department for Communities, NI; Department for Transport; Department for Education; Department for Business and Trade; Department for Infrastructure, NI; Department for the Economy, NI; Department of Finance, NI; Department of Justice, NI; Ministry of Justice; Ministry of Defence; HM Treasury; HM Revenue and Customs; Climate Change Committee; Environment Agency; Office for Environmental Protection; Ofwat; National Audit Office; National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority; Transport Scotland; Government Office for Science; Food Standards Agency; Health and Safety Executive; Isle of Man Government; Government Legal Department; Office for Investment; National Wealth Fund; Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; Home Office; Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, ROI; the Welsh Government; and The Scottish Government.
