UK failing to adapt to climate change

Reacting to today’s Climate Change Committee report warning that a lack of leadership is preventing essential investment to prepare the UK for climate change, Friends of the Earth’s head of policy, Mike Childs, said:

“With the UK facing more severe flooding and extreme heatwaves, like the record-breaking temperatures recorded last summer, the government must do far more to prepare for the growing impacts of the fossil-fuel driven climate crisis.

“This must include better insulation in our homes to ensure they are warm in winter and cool in the summer and more tree planting to cool our towns and cities.

“Support to help people adapt their homes to rising global temperatures should focus on the most marginalised communities on the frontlines of the climate emergency in the UK and overseas. Our recent research found over 3,000 neighbourhoods in England need help to adapt to hotter weather of the future.

“Ministers must also act now to help avert the worst impacts of climate breakdown by kicking the UK’s dependence on fossil fuels and ditching ludicrous plans for a new coal mine in Cumbria, and oil and gas licences in the North Sea.

“Accelerating the transition to a cleaner, greener Britain will create long term jobs, bring down our energy bills and cut the harmful emissions fuelling climate change.”