Climate Change Committee Report.

The Climate Change Committee’s new assessment, A Well‑Adapted UK, is a clear call to action: the climate has already changed, and the UK must urgently adapt. For a rural county like Herefordshire — where farming, nature, and community life are tightly interwoven — the report’s findings feel especially relevant.

What’s changing

The CCC highlights rising risks that will shape daily life across the county:

Hotter summers, with temperatures regularly exceeding 40°C
More frequent flooding, including surface water flooding in towns and villages
Increasing water scarcity, with national shortages expected by 2040
Pressure on food systems, both locally and globally
Accelerating nature loss, unless habitats are restored and connected

The message is simple: the UK was built for a climate that no longer exists.

What This Means for Herefordshire’s Farmers

Farming is already feeling the strain of extreme weather. Without adaptation, the amount of high‑quality farmland could fall from 40% to just over 10% by 2050.

The CCC recommends:

Investing in soil health and water‑smart farming
Expanding on‑farm water storage and efficient irrigation
Diversifying crops and livestock systems
Strengthening hedgerows, wetlands and shade to protect animals and soils
Using ELMs and other schemes to support climate‑resilient practice

Early action will help protect yields, manage risk, and secure long‑term viability for Herefordshire’s farming businesses.

What This Means for Community Groups

Communities will be central to how the UK adapts. The CCC highlights the importance of:

Cool, safe community spaces during heatwaves
Supporting neighbours who are older, isolated, or in poor‑quality housing
Local flood groups working with councils and landowners
Community food projects that build resilience
Nature recovery initiatives that connect habitats across parishes
Sharing practical knowledge on water saving, home energy, and preparedness

Herefordshire’s strong network of volunteers and local groups is one of our greatest assets in building resilience.

What This Means for Councillors and Local Leaders

Local authorities will play a pivotal role in shaping a climate‑resilient future.

The CCC calls for:

Heat‑ready buildings and public spaces
Integrated flood planning using both engineering and nature‑based solutions
Water‑efficient homes and infrastructure
Planning policy aligned with future climate scenarios
Nature recovery networks designed for the climate of 2050
Clear, measurable adaptation strategies across departments

For Herefordshire, this means long‑term thinking, cross‑sector collaboration, and ensuring that adaptation is fair and inclusive.

A Shared Opportunity

Across all sectors, the CCC’s message is hopeful: we know what works, and acting now will save money, protect nature, and strengthen communities. Adaptation is no longer a technical challenge — it’s a choice.

Herefordshire has the partnerships, the community spirit, and the landscape‑scale ambition to lead the way. The question now is how quickly we can move from awareness to action.

Read the full report here