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UK Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change

Adverse climate impacts, such as extreme weather, increased rainfall, and sea-level rise, pose significant challenges to human and natural systems across the UK and beyond.   

There is an urgent need to find solutions and build resilience and preparedness for people, places, and nature, but this requires improving understanding of both the risks posed and the potential for policies and projects that can deliver multiple benefits.   

The Priestley Centre UK Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change theme responds to these challenges by bringing together researchers from across academic disciplines working on adaptation and resilience issues that impact the UK in varying ways.   

Collectively, we draw on insights and methods from across the physical and social sciences, covering areas ranging from decision making and psychology through transport, civil engineering, finance and economics to climate impact studies, climate modelling, and meteorology.   

We also collaborate with policy- and decision-makers, industry experts, NGOs, community groups and other users of climate information to ensure that our work can deliver real-world solutions, ranging from the design and implementation of adaptation policies, programmes and projects to the co-production and development of climate services. 

If you’re interested in working with us on issues related to UK climate adaptation and resilience please contact [email protected].

For colleagues at the University of Leeds, if you would like to join the UK Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change Teams community please also contact [email protected] 

Current and past work

Workers and Climate Adaptation at Work

This is the first UK study to examine how workers are adapting to a range of climate hazards, including heat, flooding, drought, storms, snow and ice, and air-pollution-related conditions.

Coast-R Network

The Coast-R Network is an inclusive and collaborative community of practice working to build knowledge, action and resilience for UK coastal communities and seas.

The Fourth Climate Change Risk Assessment

This will provide an updated assessment of the risks and opportunities to the UK from climate change and the potential for adaptation to address them.

UK Climate Resilience Programme

A four-year interdisciplinary research programme under the direction of Co-Champions Suraje Dessai and Kate Lonsdale (University of Leeds), and Jason Lowe (Met Office).