Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to (a) measure and (b) mitigate the impact of climate change on the rural economy.

The government published the third Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA3) in January 2022 identifying 61 climate risks and opportunities, informed by an independent assessment undertaken by the Climate Change Committee (CCC). For each of the 61 climate risks and opportunities, an assessment of the urgency of further action was conducted based on global warming scenarios of 2ºC and 4ºC.

The extent and distribution of future climate impacts in the UK are uncertain. That is why the government is taking decisive action to adapt to climate change now while addressing uncertainties through research and monitoring. The third National Adaptation Programme (NAP3), published 17^th July 2023, marks the start of an actively-managed programme to mitigate climate risks across sectors and monitor progress and delivery of the actions set out in the document.