Climate Resilience

UKGBC works closely with relevant government departments, including combined and local authorities on key policies and recommendations to enhance the resilience of the built environment.

Our climate is changing, rapidly and dangerously. In the UK, climate change is causing hotter, driers summers and wetter, windier winters that are having increasingly severe health, economic, and social impacts for our built environment and communities.

Together with our partners and members, UKGBC works across the sector and with Government to step up the speed and scale of action on climate resilience that better protects our homes and communities from the changing climate.

Why do we focus on climate resilience?

We are already experiencing the consequences of a 1ºC global temperature rise through more intense and frequent extreme weather across the UK. Those consequences are costing lives and livelihoods, now.

1.8 million homes are at significant risk of flooding, costing the UK economy £1.3 billion each year. Experts predict that a third of the English coast will face flood pressure by 2050. Storms Dennis and Ciara in 2020 saw 82,000 insurance claims for flood and wind damage, leading to more than £360 million paid out by insurers.

2.6 million people live in homes where excess cold poses serious and immediate risk to health and safety, costing the NHS £1.4 billion each year. In other seasons, 20% of homes currently experience overheating, even during relatively cool summers.

By 2050, threats posed by climate change will cost up to 4% of GDP – nearly twice the cost of the armed forces and more than the entire current UK budget deficit. The UK urgently needs to step up its efforts to build more resilient homes, towns, and cities.

Climate Resilience

What policies do we propose?

As the voice of our sustainable built environment, UKGBC is calling on the Government to:

Make sure new homes are fit for purpose

Amending the Future Homes Standard to prevent homes built after 2025 from becoming rapidly uninsurable and unlivable

Kick start a Nationwide Retrofit Campaign

As well as reducing carbon emissions, a retrofit campaign would make homes more resilient to unpredictable climates

Put climate resilience at the heart of planning

This can promote and enable development of more climate-resilient homes and spaces

Invest in nature-based solutions

They improve resilience, deliver social value, and restore nature

Our work so far

CIWEM Collaboration

Working with Chartered Institute for Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) to call for the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to set mandatory standards for delivery and adoption of SuDS in new developments.
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Climate Change Adaptation

UKGBC’s work on Climate Change Adaptation empowers industry to build resilience.
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Holding government to account

We want tangible, trackable commitments and clear policies that deliver more resilient and regenerative buildings and places for people to live
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Resources

Blogs

Climate Change Adaptation

As the climate crisis intensifies and extreme weather events become more common, the UK’s buildings, cities and critical infrastructure, and the communities that use and occupy these, are in increasing danger. It’s vital to address how our buildings and infrastructure can be adapted to remain fit for the future.
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Climate Resilience webinar