Climate Change Adaptation for UK Buildings

"The ongoing changes in the UK's climate already pose challenges to people, ecosystems, infrastructure, society, and the economy. It's not enough to just plan to reduce green house gas emissions. We have to adapt as well."

Richard Millar, Head of Adaptation & Climate Science, UK Climate Change Committee, 29/03/23

Climate change is not a future problem - "it's here and now"

British Red Cross, 2022

We’re passionate about reaching net zero, but we also recognise that adapting to the immediate impacts of climate change is becoming a critical priority too.

Global carbon emissions have continued to accelerate, and the UK’s climate is already changing. The Met Office’s latest climate projection model is clear that even under low emissions scenarios the UK will experience hotter, drier summers; warmer, wetter winters; and more frequent and severe extreme weather events.

Global emissions continue to rise

AR6 Synthesis Report graph showing Global emissions rising

Credit: AR6 Synthesis Report ipcc.ch/report/ar6/syr/figures/

The UK's climate is already changing

Graph showing UK climate rising since 1659

Credit: Central England Temperature with Climate Change Projections,, Chrisbeales.net

Our changing climate is already having a significant impact on the built environment. New climate related risks including overheating, flooding, water scarcity, storm damage, and wild fires all pose serious threats to building safety, occupant health and wellbeing, and operational performance.

Scroll through our research to see why we need to talk about climate change adaptation for buildings...

UK buildings cannot cope with todays weather conditions

social housing bedrooms more likely to overheat

Dry summers increase, water available decrease

60% office buildings do not have air conditioning fitted

Increase in temperature during exams less likely to pass

At the same time, new commercial, regulatory and legal drivers mean that building owners and occupiers are becoming more focused on climate adaptation issues. Higher insurance premiums for buildings at risk of storm or flood damage, new mandatory requirements to disclose material climate related risks in financial statements, and a heightened risk of litigation for failing to prevent foreseeable climate-related harms to people, buildings, and infrastructure, are all now commanding serious attention in public and private sector boardrooms.

Equans is leading the conversation on how to systematically identify and manage climate change adaptation risks across the UK built environment. Our expertise in energy, digital, facilities management, and construction gives us a unique view on how to mitigate emissions to reach net zero, while also adapting to new and emerging climate risks.

Managing physical climate risk across your estate

Actively managing climate risk can also help to deliver real business benefits, including reducing exposure to loss and damage, increasing operational and service resilience; ensuring compliance with environmental and financial regulation, as well as improving health, safety and wellbeing for building users.

Equans’ Integrated Risk, Adaptation and Resilience Model

Get in touch

Please contact us if you would like more information or to discuss climate change adaptation with us.