The UK government has been urged to shield flood defence funding from upcoming spending cuts, as concerns mount over the country’s preparedness for climate-related disasters.
Julia King (pictured above), chair of the Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) adaptation group, warned that investment in resilience and climate adaptation may be at risk in the government’s spending review due in June.
King said the CCC was seriously concerned about the potential reduction in resilience-related funding. She acknowledged fiscal pressures on the government but argued that adaptation spending should not be considered an easy area for cuts.
A CCC report assessed the UK’s progress on climate adaptation, concluding that minimal improvement has been made since the last assessment in 2023.
This comes despite earlier commitments by the government, which in January pledged £2.65 billion (US$3.32 billion) in funding for flood defence projects, including tidal barriers and river and sea defences, to be allocated before March 2026. Funding decisions beyond that date will be subject to the upcoming June review.
In response, a government spokesperson said the CCC’s report would be carefully considered, with a formal response to follow.
In 2024, the UK experienced a significant increase in flood-related damages, with insurance payouts exceeding £650 million – the highest annual total on record. This surge was attributed to 12 named storms during the 2023/2024 season, marking the most since 2015/2016.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) reported that total property claims in the fourth quarter of 2024 reached £1.6 billion, bringing the annual claims total to £5.7 billion – the largest amount paid out in any year on record.
Additionally, the average payout per home insurance claim rose by 13% in Q2 2024 to £6,002, a record high and 33% higher compared to the same period in 2023.
Indications of funding pressure were already present in the UK budget announced last October. At that time, the government flagged that it would need to reassess spending on flood mitigation initiatives and agriculture-related schemes.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is now expected to identify additional savings as the UK, alongside other European nations, increases budget allocations for military assistance to Ukraine.
Climate change is projected to affect multiple sectors across the UK economy, including agriculture, healthcare and infrastructure. One assessment has estimated that the UK’s gross domestic product could decline by as much as 7% by 2050 if current climate trends continue.
In England, 6.3 million properties are currently considered at risk of flooding, with that figure expected to rise to eight million by 2050. This would equate to one in four homes.
A government-supported scheme that allows homeowners in flood-prone areas to obtain insurance is due to expire in 2039. Without such protections in place, households could face substantial uninsured losses if flood risks persist.
Citing climate-related disasters, King referenced the floods in Valencia in October, which resulted in over 200 fatalities, as evidence that extreme weather events are already having serious impacts. She said action cannot be delayed, describing the issue as one that must be addressed immediately to avoid more severe consequences in the future.
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