The Climate Adaptation Research and Innovation Framework: A Collaborative Approach to Addressing Climate Change
The UK government has taken a significant step towards addressing climate change by identifying research and innovation challenges across 11 sectors that will require collaborative action to drive adaptation. The Climate Adaptation Research and Innovation Framework, published recently, aims to enhance the UK’s assessment of climate risk, inform policy decisions, and drive innovative adaptation solutions.
Interconnected Systems Challenge
As noted by government chief scientific adviser Angela McLean and Defra’s chief scientific adviser Gideon Henderson in the foreword of the framework, climate resilience is a complex, interconnected systems challenge involving infrastructure, ecosystems, health, finance, data, and governance. This challenge cannot be addressed by a single sector or discipline, but rather requires a coordinated effort across the government, industry, and research communities.
Key Sectors and Research Challenges
The framework identifies 11 key sectors that will need to be addressed, including:
- Nature
- Working land and seas
- Food security
- Water supply
- Energy
- Telecommunications and ICT
- Transport
- Towns and cities and community preparedness/response
- Buildings
- Health
- Business and finance
In each of these sectors, the framework outlines:
- Overall goal
- Main outcomes
- Key government department responsible
- Research and innovation challenges and related needs
For example, in the nature section, the overall goal is to have a natural environment resilient to impacts under a changing climate, with outcomes such as:
- Larger, more connected, more diverse, more protected and more resilient habitats
- Improved biodiversity and ecosystem services
- Enhanced climate change mitigation and adaptation capabilities
The research and innovation challenges across all 11 sectors include:
- Risk assessment
- Decision and support solutions
- Data needs
In the energy sector, for example, research and innovation needs include:
- Infrastructure resilience
- Ecosystem capacity
- Heating and cooling demand
- Wind and solar energy, and bioenergy
Unlocking Economic and Social Opportunities
The framework notes that by investing in research and innovation, the UK can develop adaptive measures that not only address climate challenges but also advance the UK government’s five national missions, including:
- Making Britain a clean energy superpower
- Kickstarting economic growth
It also highlights that the effects of climate change will not be felt evenly across society, and that those who are economically vulnerable and socially marginalized are likely to be most affected. Therefore, climate adaptation research and innovation needs to consider these socio-economic vulnerabilities to avoid introducing or reinforcing social inequalities.
Accessible Information
The framework emphasizes the importance of making information on climate risks and responses to climate change widely available in an accessible format. This can enable local decision-makers and members of the public to take evidence-based adaptation actions, informed by the latest research and innovation.
Collaboration and Coordination
The report notes that by fostering collaboration across the public and private sectors, we can accelerate the development and deployment of adaptation measures, leaving us better prepared for climate risks while unlocking economic and social opportunities.
Key Takeaways
• The UK government has identified 11 key sectors for climate change adaptation research and innovation. • Climate resilience is a complex, interconnected systems challenge that requires a coordinated effort across the government, industry, and research communities. • The 11 sectors identified include nature, working land and seas, food security, water supply, energy, telecommunications and ICT, transport, towns and cities and community preparedness/response, buildings, health, and business and finance. • The framework outlines research and innovation challenges and needs across all 11 sectors, including risk assessment, decision and support solutions, and data needs. • By investing in research and innovation, the UK can develop adaptive measures that address climate challenges and advance the UK government’s five national missions. • The effects of climate change will not be felt evenly across society, and climate adaptation research and innovation needs to consider socio-economic vulnerabilities to avoid introducing or reinforcing social inequalities.
Conclusion
The UK government’s identification of 11 key sectors for climate change adaptation research and innovation marks an important step towards addressing climate change. The Climate Adaptation Research and Innovation Framework provides a comprehensive approach to enhancing the UK’s assessment of climate risk, informing policy decisions, and driving innovative adaptation solutions. By fostering collaboration across the public and private sectors, the UK can accelerate the development and deployment of adaptation measures, leaving us better prepared for climate risks while unlocking economic and social opportunities.
