Report highlights value of people-centred approach to climate adaptation

A new report co-developed by the Government Office for Science highlights how social science evidence can help when developing policy to help the UK adapt to our changing climate.

People wearing brightly coloured waterproof boot covers wade through floodwater on a flooded street. Water reaches above ankle height, and a red umbrella is visible among the crowd.

The report explores how people’s needs, behaviours, experiences and local contexts affect the way climate risks are experienced and how measures to help us adapt to climate changes are understood, taken up and delivered.

‘Putting people at the centre of UK climate adaptation and resilience’ has been developed by the ACCESS (Advancing Capacity for Climate and Environment Social Science) Adaptation and Resilience Task Force, co-chaired by the Government Office for Science.  

The report highlights the value of putting people at the centre of efforts to adapt to our climate. It argues that responding to the effects of climate change such as flooding, heatwaves and drought is not just about improving infrastructure and using technology. It is also about understanding how people experience these issues, how they respond to them and what support they need to take action to adapt to climate change. 

Drawing on research, expert advice and workshops, the report sets out practical ways for policymakers to use evidence about how people think, behave and make decisions when developing policies to help the UK adapt to the changing climate.  By helping policymakers better understand people’s needs, experiences and behaviours, the report aims to support adaptation measures that are more effective, equitable and responsive to climate risks, helping communities, businesses and public services prepare for the impacts of climate change.

Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Dame Angela McLean said: