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CACall to Action

Original sources. Clear distinctions.

Evidence & research

Practical adaptation starts with understanding the problem. These summaries distinguish what the evidence says from what we think it could mean for practical work.

Date reviewed: . Publication dates are shown separately for each source.

Five evidence summaries

The finding. The context. The opportunity.

01

A warmer UK climate

Publisher
Met Office; published in the Royal Meteorological Society’s International Journal of Climatology
Published
Geographic scope
United Kingdom
Evidence type
Observed climate trend; peer-reviewed annual climate assessment

Finding

The UK mean temperature in 2016–2025 was 1.33°C above the 1961–1990 average, according to State of the UK Climate 2025.

Limitations and uncertainty

This compares two UK-wide historical averages using an explicit 1961–1990 baseline. It is not a forecast, a local temperature estimate or a measure of warming relative to pre-industrial conditions. Local conditions and individual years vary.

What this means for Call to Action

Our interpretation, not a finding of the source

Preparation should reflect the climate people and systems now experience, alongside reducing emissions to limit future warming.

Practical opportunities to explore

Explore heat preparedness, building performance and operating thresholds with affected communities and services. Any proposed intervention needs local evidence and evaluation before benefits can be claimed.

02

Flood exposure across homes and businesses

Publisher
Environment Agency
Published
Geographic scope
England
Evidence type
Modelled national flood-risk assessment

Finding

The Environment Agency’s 2024 national assessment identifies around 6.3 million properties in England in areas at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea, surface water or a combination of these sources.

Limitations and uncertainty

Properties include homes and businesses across different risk bands. They are not all at high risk or certain to flood. Improved data and modelling change the assessed exposure; the figure is not simply a count of newly endangered properties. It is a flood-risk figure, not a count of properties exposed to coastal erosion.

What this means for Call to Action

Our interpretation, not a finding of the source

A national picture can help identify priorities, but practical decisions need local flood sources, risk bands and the needs of the people affected.

Practical opportunities to explore

Investigate drainage, property resilience, warning arrangements and continuity of essential services in specific places, testing feasibility and maintenance requirements rather than assuming one solution fits every site.

03

Planning for future water needs

Publisher
Environment Agency
Published
Geographic scope
England; public water supply
Evidence type
Scenario-based water-resources projection

Finding

The National Framework for Water Resources 2025 models a potential public water supply deficit in England of up to 5 billion litres a day by 2055 without action.

Limitations and uncertainty

This is a potential deficit under scenarios involving population growth, climate change and water needed to protect the environment. It is not inevitable or UK-wide, and is not a forecast of today’s shortage. Action on demand and supply can change the outcome.

What this means for Call to Action

Our interpretation, not a finding of the source

Water resilience needs long-term planning that considers public supply and environmental needs together, with attention to local constraints.

Practical opportunities to explore

Explore demand reduction, leakage, storage and water management with relevant users and specialists. Compare options against environmental requirements, costs and achievable outcomes rather than promising additional supply.

04

Heat and health in England

Publisher
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
Published
Geographic scope
England; summer 2025
Evidence type
Statistical estimate of heat-associated mortality

Finding

UKHSA estimated 1,504 heat-associated deaths in England during summer 2025 in its Heat mortality monitoring report, published in April 2026.

Limitations and uncertainty

This is an estimate from statistical analysis, not a count of death certificates naming heat. It does not by itself estimate deaths attributable to human-caused climate change. Estimates depend on the method and available mortality data.

What this means for Call to Action

Our interpretation, not a finding of the source

Heat preparedness is a health-protection issue. Identifying vulnerable people and settings matters as well as understanding the national estimate.

Practical opportunities to explore

Explore practical overheating assessment, shade, cooling and preparedness in homes, workplaces and public services. Evaluate safety, accessibility, energy use and measured outcomes for any proposed response.

05

Food resilience beyond the farm

Publisher
Food Standards Agency, FSA Research and Evidence
Published
Geographic scope
UK food system, including international supply-chain dependencies
Evidence type
Rapid evidence review and expert elicitation

Finding

The Food Standards Agency review identifies climate-related risks across food production, processing, transport, storage and retail. Interconnected risks and gaps in knowledge need further study.

Limitations and uncertainty

This is not a new controlled experiment or a fully systematic review. Its near-term, five-year framing starts at publication in 2024, not at this page’s review date. Coverage and expert judgement have limitations; impacts differ between activities and places.

What this means for Call to Action

Our interpretation, not a finding of the source

Food resilience is a whole-system challenge. A response at one stage needs to consider dependencies elsewhere rather than moving the problem along the chain.

Practical opportunities to explore

Explore water-dependent production, cold-chain resilience, transport and storage continuity with relevant expertise. Assess trade-offs, food safety and operational constraints before proposing or evaluating interventions.

Our editorial approach

How we use evidence

We prefer original official or peer-reviewed sources. We distinguish observations from projections and opinion, and retain the geography, baseline, scenarios and uncertainties that make a finding meaningful.

Source publication dates are separate from the date we review them. Call to Action’s interpretation is labelled, so a proposed opportunity is not mistaken for a conclusion reached by the source.

Public commentary offers context, not proof that a solution works or endorsement of Call to Action. Evidence about a potential solution still needs evaluation in its intended setting; we do not claim guaranteed benefits or unsupported returns on investment.

We aim to update or revise these summaries when evidence changes. This is an editorial commitment, not automated monitoring.

Further reading

A Well-Adapted UK

Climate Change Committee · · United Kingdom

The assessment calls for adaptation objectives supported by measurable, time-bound targets, clear responsibilities and delivery plans. Targets should relate to a baseline of current resilience so progress can be tracked.

Read the CCC assessment ↗

Evaluation, not assumption

From evidence to practical work

Future case studies should report the setting, intervention, costs and measured outcomes, alongside limitations, failures and what changed. A useful result needs context, not just a success story.

No project results or case-study partners are claimed here. Our next step is to connect a defined need with relevant expertise and establish how possible responses could be tested.

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