The Briefing Room UK Resilience 1: How prepared are we for climate change?
Aug 14, 2025
In this discussion, Mark Maslin, a climatology expert from University College London, Jess Neumann, a hydrology specialist at the University of Reading, and Richard Dawson, an engineering professor from Newcastle University, tackle the UK's escalating climate challenges. They explore the alarming rise in temperatures and extreme weather, revealing strains on infrastructure like railways. The trio emphasizes the need for better flood preparedness and housing adaptations to ensure safety. They also probe the effectiveness of early warning systems in enhancing community resilience.
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UK Warming And Accelerating Extremes
- The UK has warmed ~1.24°C in 50 years with hotter extremes becoming more common.
- Recent years (2023–24) are the warmest on record, raising questions about acceleration beyond models.
Oceans And Aerosols Speed Change
- Climate change may be accelerating due to reduced aerosols and ocean heat uptake.
- Oceans act as a heat reservoir, releasing more energy into the climate system.
Winters Warmer But Cold Snaps Persist
- Winters are ~1°C warmer and ~15% wetter than last century, and snow days have declined.
- Severe cold snaps still occur but are about half as likely as in the 1960s.