In April 2025, the Climate Change Committee issued their latest assessment on the UK’s progress on climate adaptation. Researchers at CCE wrote a Deep Dive Report on the assessment for Chapter Zero UK, highlighting why adaptation should be on the corporate board agenda and offering key insights into how NEDs can better equip themselves to oversee their businesses’ adaptation responses.
Overview:
On 30 April 2025, the UK’s independent climate advisory body, the Climate Change Committee (CCC), released its biennial report to Parliament, Progress in adapting to climate change. This assessment evaluates the implementation of the Third National Adaptation Programme (NAP3) and the UK’s overall progress in strengthening resilience to climate risks. The report is structured around 46 key outcomes across sectors such as the built environment, land use, infrastructure, health, and the economy—outcomes deemed essential for a ‘well-adapted UK’.
The CCC notes that since its last report in 2023, there has been little meaningful change in adaptation planning and delivery, due in part to persistent policy gaps, limited investment, and a lack of consistent monitoring frameworks. In the private sector, many businesses continue to face uncertainty over how climate risk reporting translates into practical action.
The report calls for stronger public-private collaboration to define adaptation goals, develop relevant technologies, and unlock financing for implementation. It also stresses the need for clearer adaptation-related disclosures that demonstrate how businesses are incorporating climate risk into strategic planning. With fewer than one in three UK companies currently using scenario analysis to guide their business strategies, the CCC makes a compelling case for more widespread, proactive preparation for the economic and social shocks that climate change may bring.
Deep dive highlights:
| The UK is not adapting fast enough to climate risks. The CCC warns that progress is too slow as extreme weather worsens, with one in four properties in England being at risk of flooding by 2050. Immediate, coordinated action is needed to avoid major economic and infrastructure impacts. | Climate adaptation is essential for business resilience. Extreme weather threatens supply chains, assets, and long-term profitability. Boards must treat adaptation as a strategic priority—not just for risk management, but for value creation and competitiveness. |
| Investment in adaptation is lacking. Despite policy commitments, delivery plans remain vague. The CCC calls on businesses to help close funding gaps and back scalable solutions, emphasising that no viable project should fail due to lack of finance. | Acting now will reduce long-term costs. Proactive adaptation avoids locking in outdated infrastructure and reduces future losses. Boards should assess vulnerabilities across their operations to boost efficiency and resilience. |
| Businesses have a leadership role to play. Strong governance, better use of data, and visible action can drive industry confidence and investor support. By embedding adaptation into strategy, businesses can influence national progress and support a greener economy. |
About Chapter Zero:
The full deep dive report was published by Chapter Zero, a network for non-executive directors and chairs who are integrating climate action into business strategy. Chapter Zero is the UK chapter of the Climate Governance Initiative, developed with the World Economic Forum.
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