Waterwise has welcomed the publication of A Well-Adapted UK Report by the Climate Change Committee (CCC), which identifies drought as one of the most significant climate hazards facing the UK, and places water efficiency at the heart of a resilient future.
The report, published today as part of the Fourth Independent Assessment of UK Climate Risk advice to Government, reiterates what we know, that without urgent action, water supply shortfalls could exceed five billion litres per day by 2050, and additionally predicts that by 2055, across the UK, there could be a 320 million litre annual average shortfall of private water supply for agriculture, industry and power, and this could rise to 657 million litres, as climate change brings hotter, drier summers, more frequent droughts and rising pressure on households, businesses, farming and nature.
The CCC says the UK should prepare for around 2°C of global warming by 2050 and plan for up to 4°C by 2100, calling for resilience standards to be set now, including ensuring water supplies are resilient to a 1-in-500-year drought by 2040.
The report makes clear that adaptation cannot wait and that acting now is far cheaper than dealing with the future costs of climate impacts. It highlights the need for clear policy and strategic direction, stronger powers for regulators to deliver adaptation action, including through the proposed new regulator for England and Wales, and clearer responsibilities across sectors to address interdependencies between water, infrastructure and essential services. The report also stresses the importance of resilience standards to avoid cascading disruption and ensure critical infrastructure can continue operating and recover quickly during extreme events. Waterwise supports the opportunity to shape the mandate of future regulators in line with these findings and recommendations. Resilience standards must include water scarcity and water efficiency!
The report also warns that “poor drought preparedness harms quality of life, slows economic growth, and is already restricting new housing needed for a growing population”.
Key findings include:
- the UK’s water and wastewater systems are not fit for the current, let alone future, climate;
- droughts and extreme heat will become more frequent and intense;
- heatwaves above 40°C could occur every few years;
- UK summers could become up to 50% drier in extreme scenarios.
The CCC identifies water efficiency as one of the most cost-effective adaptation actions available and calls for urgent action on:
- demand reduction and behaviour change;
- smart irrigation and water-efficient products;
- leakage reduction and smart metering;
- water reuse and recycling;
- reservoirs, water transfers and sustainable storage;
- stronger standards for homes, buildings and appliances.
The report also highlights the importance of minimum water efficiency standards for appliances and buildings to make efficient products the default for households and businesses, alongside the upcoming mandatory water efficiency labelling scheme. It points to evidence from countries including Australia and the United States where minimum standards have significantly reduced water demand.
The report also highlights the importance of technology, innovation, public engagement and cross-sector collaboration to support long-term resilience.
The CCC estimates adaptation measures will require around £11 billion per year in investment, but warns the cost of inaction could rise to between £60–£260 billion annually by 2050, with water scarcity currently causing direct economic losses of about of £3.8 billion which could rise to £6.9 billion by the 2050s.
Public concern around drought resilience was also clear in the CCC’s research, with 81% of people saying they felt the UK is not currently prepared for a 1-in-500-year drought scenario and 70% saying urgent climate action is needed now.
Baroness Brown, Chair of the Adaptation Committee, said:
“Our lives, our landscapes and our homes are under increasing pressure from the changing climate. But we are not powerless.
“The solutions already exist, and proven technologies are available now to help the UK adapt effectively.”
Nicci Russell, CEO of Waterwise, said:
“We are delighted to see water efficiency recognised as a key focus of this report, because nothing happens without water.
“The climate crisis is already increasing drought risk and pressure on our water supplies, but we can still change the trajectory for the UK. Minimum water efficiency standards, better labelling, smarter water use, tackling leakage and supporting behaviour change are some of the fastest and most cost-effective actions we can take right now to build resilience for people, businesses and nature.
“We must increase the urgency we attach to water efficiency – right across the UK.”
