With May seeing the record for the warmest day in May ever being broken twice in a row, it’s worth reflecting on how events like this are increasingly being viewed as part of a ‘new’ normal rather than something unusual. Alongside this, it’s been widely reported that the top 10 hottest years on record, have all occurred since the early 2000’s, with several of the most recent years including 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2025 ranking among the warmest.
Early indicators for 2026 also suggest that it’s continuing this trend, even though we’re only just halfway through.
It’s with this in mind that the recent report from the Climate Change Committee highlights a clear message. The UK is already experiencing stronger impacts from heat, flooding and drought, and these pressures will increase without action.
Baroness Brown, Chair of the Adaptation Committee, said:
"This report carries a message of hope. The solutions already exist, and proven technologies are available now to help the UK adapt effectively. With the right decisions and actions, we can protect the people and the places we love.”
The A-Well Adapted UK report sets out how climate risks are becoming more frequent and more disruptive, affecting homes, public services, food systems and infrastructure. It highlights that rising heat is placing more strain on buildings, heavier rainfall is increasing the risk and severity of flooding, and longer dryer periods are challenging water supplies.
The committee stresses that these changes aren’t distant concerns. They're already affecting daily life, from overheating in schools and hospitals to pressure on transport networks and energy systems during extreme weather.
Baroness Brown, also added:
“We can protect patients and residents in overheated hospitals and care homes, children in nurseries and schools, and communities facing repeated flooding."
To address this, it calls for practical steps in several areas. These include improving cooling in buildings, working to strengthen flood defences and restoring natural eco systems such as wetlands, reducing water waste and improving storage, and helping farmers and nature to adapt to changing conditions. It also highlights the need to ensure infrastructure systems remain reliable as extreme weather becomes more common.
Alongside this, there’s growing focus on practical adaptation efforts that go beyond government policy.
“The public want to see change and the government now has an opportunity to step up and protect our way of life.”
Baroness Brown
Almo Nature’s owner, Fondazione Capellino supports projects aimed at restoring biodiversity and improving resilience to environmental change.
The Florence Project, which explores how cities can better understand climate impacts and adapt to them. It focuses on increasing urban greenery and helping cities respond more effectively to heat and other environmental pressures, supporting both the people and nature that live there.
Together, these developments show that a shift towards recognising that the impacts of climate change are already affecting our world, and adapting to them is essential for protecting everyday life and long-term wellbeing.
Sources