Programme Launch: Maximising UK Adaptation to Climate Change (MACC)

Recording

Background

The Maximising UK Adaptation to Climate Change (MACC) programme is a landmark initiative aiming to address climate risks by examining the levers of change for adaptation in the UK and advancing transformative climate adaptation strategies.

The programme is funded by UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) and the UK Department for Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and is scheduled to run for three years. The programme was co-designed by UKRI, Defra, the UK Met Office and the UK Climate Change Committee. King’s College London (KCL) serves as the Hub Secretariat and the home of the project’s Policy Response Unit. KCL leads a broad-based consortium of universities and climate organizations involved in the project, representing entities from throughout the UK.

The programme consists of two strands:

• a climate change adaptation hub: coordination and translation
• six research projects: delivering new transdisciplinary knowledge for UK climate adaptation

Summary

The launch event, held on Tuesday, 4th February, 2025, was led by the MACC Hub programme lead Helen Adams, from KCL. Katy Peat (DEFRA), gave a short introduction and explained that this joint funding is part of the Third National Adaptation Programme.

This introduction was followed by an engaging panel discussion on ‘Visioning a Well-Adapted UK’ chaired by Jude Hassall (GLA), interactive engagement which solicited ideas to shape the hub’s direction, and rapid-fire presentations from six research projects beginning under the second part of the MACC Programme including:

• WM-Adapt: Maximising Adaptation to Climate Change in the West Midlands, and beyond
• ATTENUATE: Creating the enabling conditions for UK climate adaptation investment
• GP4Streets: DIY Greening Prescription for Climate Adaptation in Urban Streets
• ARCADE: Accelerating Resilience and Climate Adaptation of Domestic Environments for vulnerable populations
• Joined up Landscapes: Resilient Nature-based Solutions for Climate Adaptation
• Climateflation: Adapting to climate-induced food price shocks in the UK​

Introduction: Katy Peat (DEFRA)

In her opening remarks, Katy Peat (DEFRA), gave a short introduction and explained that this joint funding is part of the Third National Adaptation Programme, published in July 2023, when DEFRA committed to doing extra research on what the levers and enablers around climate change adaptation. This funding opportunity follows its predecessor UKRI funded programme – the UK Climate Resilience Programme, which was funded under the Strategic Priorities Fund.

The UK Climate Change Risk Assessment provides a lot of information about climate risk and the National Adaptation Programme lays out the plans and actions for adaptation. The devolved governments have their own national adaptation programmes, which also respond to the UKCCRA. What is now needed is research and innovation to really help to meet those risks, plans and targets and recognise that it’s not just about understanding climate hazard, but also understanding much more about vulnerability and exposure, identifying the different response types and how those work in practice. DEFRA hopes the programme will help to drive those reductions and exposure and vulnerability to climate risks in a people centric way and consider how we scale up action learning through examples of best practice.

Panel discussion: Key messages

Jude Hassall (GLA) chaired an engaging panel discussion soliciting the views of our panellists on two key questions: (a) What is your vision of a well-adapted UK? and (b) What are some of the key priorities that the government should address?

Emma Howard Boyd

Current Chair of ClientEarth, Former Chair of Environment Agency & London Climate Resilience Review.

Emma was Chair of the Environment Agency and an ex-officio board member of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 2016 to 2022. She is currently Chair of ClientEarth, Chair of the London Climate Resilience Review and a Global Ambassador for Race to Zero and Race to Resilience.

KEY POINTS

When responding on her vision of a well adapted UK, Emma raised several critical issues that need to be addressed urgently to achieve wholistic resilience.

• Vision for well-adapted UK: A well-adapted UK prioritizes human safety, well-being, equitable access to essential services and resilient infrastructure. It fosters a prosperous green economy with sustainable jobs, agriculture, and urban spaces while ensuring adaptation efforts do not worsen existing inequalities and are integrated into all net-zero and nature-focused initiatives. Given the urgency, the idea is to quickly build on existing work and effectively communicate its importance to all citizens.
• Priorities that government should address: Governments must elevate adaptation as a core priority by amplifying existing recommendations and ensuring funding flows across sectors to integrate climate resilience into every policy and budget decision. Without these measures, efforts toward growth risk being undermined by climate events like floods and heatwaves, locking in vulnerabilities instead of cementing resilience. Clear, effective communication is also essential to help citizens understand and support these urgent actions.

Rebecca Gibbs

Program Lead, Scottish Communities Climate Action Network (SCCAN)

Rebecca has worked in health, policy, and politics, with 15 years of experience in climate change, focusing most recently on adaptation, particularly social adaptation. Before entering the policy world, she worked as a community worker in South London and lived in two eco-communities in Dorset and Southern Spain.

KEY POINTS

In outlining her vision for a well-adapted UK, Rebecca presented several thought provoking ideas including:

• Vision for well-adapted UK: A well-adapted UK must prioritize equity in climate adaptation, recognizing how inequality worsens climate impacts. With weakened public services, policies must be grounded in current social realities and shaped by input from social policy experts and frontline groups. Even small disruptions can have severe consequences for vulnerable communities. Adaptation must be both realistic about resources and responsive to the lived experiences of those most affected.
• Priorities that government should address: There is a critical disconnect between risk assessments and national adaptation plans, which is deeply felt at the community level. Feedback from those affected by recent climate events highlights a lack of confidence in decision-making, with residents feeling left behind and unprepared. Adaptation efforts must align with the visible scale of climate impacts to restore trust and ensure evidence-based implementation is truly effective.

David Clubb

Chair, Comisiwn Seilwaith Cenedlaethol Cymru / National Infrastructure Commission for Wales

David helps organisations improve their governance and deliver projects that make Wales better for future generations. David is also the founder partner of Afallen and creator of Boards Wales.

KEY POINTS

David spoke enthusiastically about his vision for a well-adapted UK and how we can make that happen.

• Vision for well-adapted UK: Long-term, strategic thinking is essential for a well-adapted UK, yet many public bodies are too focused on short-term challenges to plan for future generations. Adaptation should be inclusive, ensuring that those who cannot afford to adapt are not left behind. A “no regrets” approach—investing in measures like home insulation that prepare for both warming and cooling—would deliver long-term resilience and economic benefits. Prioritizing foundational infrastructure and local economies is key to effective and future-proof adaptation.
• Priorities that government should address: To address future climate challenges, government must prioritize forward-thinking urban planning and integrate nature into infrastructure, such as through green spaces and trees. A “no regrets” approach, like incorporating nature into decision-making, is essential. Additionally, more agile systems and processes are needed, allowing local authorities to adapt to evolving challenges like flooding and housing targets. Planning for a resilient future requires flexibility in policies and leadership that can adapt to unforeseen circumstances.

Victoria Magreehan

External Affairs Consultant, National Trust, Northern Ireland

Victoria was previously the Strategic Development Director at Ulster Wildlife. She is a board member of Northern Ireland Environment Link and a member of the Steering Group of ClimateNI.

KEY POINTS

Victoria provided compelling ideas for a resilient UK along with the critical issues that governments need to address to achieve that.

• Vision for a well-adapted UK: A well-adapted UK would be one where climate resilience is embedded across society, with coordinated action at all levels of government and across borders. Adaptation should be on equal footing with mitigation, and decision-making must be informed by up-to-date data and a resilient mindset. It’s also crucial to foster cross-border cooperation between the UK and Ireland, addressing shared climate hazards and ensuring no region is left behind in the adaptation process.
• Priorities for government to address: The government should prioritize increasing resources and building capacity across decision-making bodies to accelerate climate adaptation efforts. A key step would be implementing a statutory duty, like Wales’ Well-being of Future Generations Act, to ensure climate adaptation is central to public decision-making. Additionally, building confidence and skills across society, with a focus on localizing adaptation strategies, will ensure that communities are equipped to lead and manage change effectively at every level.

MACC Programme research projects

In addition to the hub, the MACC Programme is also currently supporting six cross-sector research projects designed to generate new transdisciplinary insights for UK climate adaptation. These cutting-edge initiatives will collaborate closely with the hub to facilitate seamless knowledge exchange between research and policy.

WM-Adapt: Maximising Adaptation to Climate Change in the West Midlands, and beyond

The University of Birmingham, in partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), is spearheading WM-Adapt—a research initiative focused on strengthening community climate adaptation capacity. Building on WMCA’s existing adaptation planning, the project will identify key barriers, opportunities, and incentives for local climate action. Through co-creation with communities, WM-Adapt will develop scalable adaptation pathways, a regional adaptation network, and new capabilities for Climate and Vulnerabilities Risk Assessments. The initiative will also serve as a hub for knowledge sharing, ensuring best practices are disseminated across different regions and scales.

ATTENUATE: Creating the enabling conditions for UK climate adaptation investment

Led by the London School of Economics (LSE), in collaboration with the UK Government, West Midlands Combined Authority, and London Borough of Hackney, ATTENUATE explores how to unlock private sector finance for climate adaptation. This research will assess how adaptation can become an attractive investment while protecting vulnerable communities. By identifying pathways to overcome structural and behavioural barriers in multi-scale UK governance, ATTENUATE will build a strong business case for public sector investment and enabling environments for blended finance. A key outcome will be the UK Climate Adaptation Investment Framework, with case studies focusing on flood and extreme heat mitigation.

GP4Streets: DIY Greening Prescription for Climate Adaptation in Urban Streets

Led by the University of Surrey, in collaboration with Bath, UWE, Sheffield, and Imperial, GP4Streets is developing practical, DIY greening solutions to enhance urban resilience. Focusing on green, blue, and grey infrastructure (GBGI), the project will support communities in co-designing, implementing, and scaling up climate adaptation interventions. Partnering with nine local authorities and industry experts, activities will include public engagement, numerical modeling, and performance optimization at both local and city scales. A key outcome will be the GP4Streets Decision-Making Tool, empowering communities to create climate-resilient urban streets.

ARCADE: Accelerating Resilience and Climate Adaptation of Domestic Environments for vulnerable populations

Led by UCL, ARCADE focuses on adapting residential environments to safeguard older and vulnerable populations from extreme heat, both indoors and outdoors. The research will assess understudied housing types, such as retirement and social housing, using indoor monitoring to track heat exposure and its impact on residents. By modeling the interaction between indoor and outdoor heat under different climate scenarios, ARCADE will evaluate the effectiveness and cost of various heat mitigation interventions. Through stakeholder workshops, the project aims to enhance decision-making and resilience strategies for protecting at-risk communities.

Joined up LANDSCAPES

Led by City St George’s, University of London, Joined Up Landscapes explores how nature-based solutions (NBS) can enhance climate resilience and contribute to a net-zero economy. Focusing on multifunctional landscapes, the project will address key knowledge gaps in impact, viability, and policy adaptation under future climate scenarios. Through case studies with the South East Rivers Trust, Wye and Usk Foundation, and North Essex Farmers Cluster, researchers will assess the most effective conditions for NBS implementation. Using evidence reviews, qualitative assessments, system dynamic modeling, and new knowledge exchange methods, Joined Up Landscapes aims to optimize the role of NBS in UK climate adaptation strategies

Climateflation: Adapting to climate-induced food price shocks in the UK​

Led by the University of Aberdeen, this research explores the impact of climate change on food security and the UK’s resilience to food price shocks. The study will assess how climate change affects both UK and global food production, with a focus on climateflation—the economic impact of climate-driven food cost increases—and its consequences for human health. By identifying the pathways through which rising food prices affect UK populations, the project will explore policy responses and resilience strategies to safeguard food security in an era of climate uncertainty.

Ways to get involved!

There are several ways to get involved:

• Register/sign-up on the MACC Hub platform to share your projects/information and valuable resources
• You can join the Advisory Board to help shape the UK’s climate adaptation future.
• Sign-up to the MACC Hub newsletter to keep up to date with our activities.

For further information, please contact: [email protected].