Climate Change Adaptation Innovation Network
The Climate Change Adaptation Innovation Network, founded by Innovate UK, is a collaborative community that aims to support businesses to innovate to overcome the challenges posed by climate change, to create resilient and thriving businesses across the UK.
About the Network
The urgency of adapting to climate change today is becoming more and more pressing. With UK temperatures rising by 1.5°C – 2°C, resulting in record-breaking heatwaves, widespread droughts, a record number of wildfires and damaging winter storms, these changes to our climate will not only impact how we live, but also our industries.
We can no longer argue about the effects that climate change will have on our day-to-day life, as we are seeing and feeling them now.
How will these climate changes impact businesses and industries in the UK?
We need to be adapting to the changes in climate now, as there are not only the physical risks of extreme weather events, but more supply chain disruptions due to the availability of raw materials, rising energy costs due to increasing demand, and even an increase in insurance costs and regulatory change.
To help businesses and industries in the UK adapt to climate change, Innovate UK has launched the Climate Change Adaptation Innovation Network. The network will consider the role of innovation in cooling, water and biodiversity. By signing up you will get the opportunity to:
- Gain a greater understanding of innovation challenges linked to adaptation
- Understand academic research to real-world challenges
- Gain better awareness and visibility of current solutions
- Understand the funding landscape that supports businesses.
Join the network if you would like to be the first to hear about our latest activities and insights.
Focus sectors
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Overview
Useful links
As the UK’s annual temperature continues to rise the need for space cooling and refrigeration and the cost associated with operating these forms of cooling increases. It is quite rare for UK homes to have air conditioning but with summer temperatures regularly reaching 30C for large parts of the UK, it will become a more common occurrence, putting a strain on the energy networks and increasing the cost of energy for the homeowner. Likewise, businesses with retail space, offices or public buildings like schools and hospitals will see their energy costs increase as the cooling technologies we use today struggle to maintain a comfortable environment for people.
Another area of cooling that will be impacted by climate change is the use of refrigeration. Many of the different manufacturing processes operating in the UK need refrigeration, not just to store the products they make but also during the manufacturing process itself. Manufacturing industries such as food & drink, ceramics, chemicals, metals, medicines rely on refrigeration technologies that are very expensive to operate. As ambient temperatures rise in the summer these technologies work harder increasing operating costs.
The UK Government signed up to the Global Cooling Pledge at the end of 2023, which aims to reduce emissions caused by the need for cooling to combat climate change. It aims to raise ambition and international cooperation through collective global targets to reduce cooling related emissions by 68% from today by 2050, significantly increase access to sustainable cooling by 2030, and increase the global average efficiency of new air conditioners by 50%.
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Overview
Useful links
Identify the impact of climate change on sectors that rely on resilient water management, and identify the role of innovation and opportunities for regional and national investment.
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Overview
Useful links
Define the role of biodiversity in creating resilient environments for UK businesses to flourish, and identify the role of innovation.
Challenges for Net Zero cooling
This report was produced as part of the activities of the Innovate UK Climate Change Adaptation Innovation Network.
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Why we need to adapt to climate change
To help businesses and industries in the UK adapt to climate change, Innovate UK has launched the Climate Change Adaptation Innovation Network.
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Our Experts
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Read moreJoin the Network
Join the Innovation Network and be the first to hear about our latest activities and insights.