UK Government Launches £21.1 Million Fund To Strengthen Climate Resilience

The UK government has opened applications for a £21.1 million funding programme to establish a national research centre dedicated to improving Britain's resilience to climate change. The proposed What Works Centre for a Climate Resilient UK will bring together researchers, policymakers, businesses and local organisations to develop and evaluate practical measures for adapting to increasingly severe climate-related risks. The initiative is being funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), with the devolved governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland participating as formal partners.

Applications are open to eligible UK research organisations, with the successful institution expected to begin operating the centre by August 2027. The programme will provide up to £21.1 million over 44 months, supporting research, practical trials and the development of evidence-based guidance to improve climate adaptation across the country. The centre is intended to address gaps in understanding which measures are effective, where they work best and how they can be expanded to protect more communities.

New Centre To Address Growing Climate Risks ##

The investment comes amid warnings that the UK is not adapting quickly enough to the increasingly frequent and severe impacts of climate change. Extreme heat, flooding, drought and damage to essential infrastructure are already creating challenges for communities and businesses, with further consequences expected as global temperatures rise. Government projections outlined in the funding programme indicate that, by the 2050s, Britain could experience thousands of additional heat-related deaths annually, while millions of homes could face flooding risks. Critical infrastructure, food production and supply chains are also expected to become increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather and longer-term environmental changes.

The proposed centre will focus on identifying which adaptation measures are most effective, examining their costs and determining how successful interventions can be expanded across different regions and communities. Unlike research programmes concentrating primarily on climate change projections, the initiative will place particular emphasis on testing practical solutions and assessing whether they deliver measurable improvements. Researchers will be expected to evaluate the economic and social consequences of different interventions, providing evidence that can support more targeted public spending and private investment.

Research To Focus On Three Key Areas ##

The What Works Centre will concentrate on three major areas of climate adaptation, covering the natural environment, the places where people live and work, and the essential services that support everyday life. The first area will examine how climate change affects ecosystems, agriculture and food security, with research potentially covering improved wildfire management, drought preparedness, habitat restoration and protection of domestic food production. The aim is to establish which interventions can strengthen environmental resilience while maintaining sustainable food supplies and supporting the natural resources on which communities and businesses depend.

The second area will focus on creating safer and more resilient homes, public buildings and community spaces. Potential measures include reducing the risks associated with extreme heat, overheating, flooding, coastal erosion and storms, particularly in schools, hospitals, care facilities and residential properties. Researchers will consider how different types of buildings and communities are exposed to climate hazards, alongside the practical and financial challenges involved in introducing effective protection measures.

The third area will investigate how essential infrastructure and public services can remain operational during climate-related emergencies. Energy networks, water supplies, transport systems, healthcare, education and digital communications will all fall within the programme's scope, with particular attention paid to the consequences of disruption across interconnected systems. For example, failures affecting electricity supplies or transport networks can create wider difficulties for healthcare facilities and other essential services, making coordinated resilience planning an important priority.

Practical Trials To Test Adaptation Measures ##

A central requirement of the funding programme is the delivery of practical trials designed to demonstrate whether climate adaptation measures work in real-world conditions. The successful centre must undertake at least six small or medium-sized pilot projects, with a minimum of two covering each of the programme's three research areas. These trials will assess the effectiveness, affordability and potential wider application of different interventions, helping establish whether successful approaches can be replicated in other locations.

Projects could examine approaches to managing wildfire-prone landscapes, improving the resilience of buildings during heatwaves or protecting essential services from extreme weather disruption. Researchers will be expected to work closely with local authorities, businesses, community groups and other organisations involved in implementing adaptation measures, ensuring that trials reflect practical conditions rather than purely theoretical scenarios. The programme will also examine whether interventions provide value for money, helping policymakers and investors identify solutions capable of delivering the greatest benefits.

Up to £2 million of the centre's budget may be reserved for responding to emerging research needs and developing additional trials or evaluations during the funding period. This flexibility is intended to allow researchers to respond to new challenges or opportunities as evidence develops, while maintaining the programme's broader objectives. Any allocation of these funds will require an agreed process involving consultation, prioritisation and oversight.

Supporting Communities Most Vulnerable To Climate Change ##

The funding initiative places particular importance on ensuring that adaptation measures benefit communities facing the greatest exposure to climate-related risks. Researchers will be expected to consider how geography, economic circumstances and existing inequalities influence people's ability to prepare for and respond to extreme weather. This could include assessing the needs of households vulnerable to flooding, communities experiencing high temperatures and rural areas affected by changes to agriculture or water availability.

The centre will also examine how the costs and benefits of adaptation are distributed across different groups, recognising that climate hazards can affect communities in different ways. By involving residents and local organisations directly in research and decision-making, the programme aims to develop interventions that reflect local circumstances rather than relying on identical approaches across the country. Its findings will be used to support public authorities, businesses and organisations responsible for planning and delivering climate resilience measures, particularly where resources are limited and investment decisions require careful prioritisation.

Research To Inform National Climate Adaptation Strategy ##

The centre's work is expected to contribute to the development of the UK's Fourth National Adaptation Programme, which is due to be published in 2028. The programme will establish the government's approach to improving climate resilience through to 2033, including measurable objectives and plans for addressing climate-related risks. Evidence generated by the new centre could help inform decisions about infrastructure investment, environmental protection and public services, while improving the ability of organisations to assess whether existing adaptation measures are delivering results.

A major priority will be making research findings accessible to organisations responsible for implementing adaptation policies. The centre will produce guidance, evaluation frameworks and practical resources that can be used by national and local government, regulators, businesses and community organisations. It will also be required to develop a digital platform providing access to research findings and evidence about successful adaptation measures, allowing lessons from individual projects to be shared and applied more widely.

Applications Open Until December 2026 ##

Eligible UK research organisations have until 15 December 2026 at 16:00 GMT to submit applications for the funding. Applicants must demonstrate expertise in climate resilience, policy evaluation and research methods, alongside the ability to work effectively with government, businesses and communities. Each proposal must include at least one project co-lead from a UK business, third-sector organisation or government body, ensuring that practical experience contributes to the centre's development and delivery.

The successful applicant will be required to establish the centre for an initial 44-month period, with the project starting no later than 1 August 2027. Funding will be distributed across four financial years, subject to the programme's conditions and government spending approvals. Applications will undergo an expert assessment process, with shortlisted organisations expected to attend interviews in April 2027 and a final funding decision anticipated by mid-May.

The centre will also be required to seek formal membership of the UK's What Works Network within its first year, supporting collaboration and the wider use of evidence in public policymaking. The successful organisation will need to establish an independent advisory structure, report regularly on its performance and demonstrate how its research activities will support long-term improvements in climate resilience.

Investment Aims To Improve Long-Term Climate Preparedness ##

The planned research centre represents an effort to strengthen the evidence available to organisations responsible for preparing Britain for climate change. Although significant investment has already been directed towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions, adapting buildings, infrastructure and communities to the consequences of climate change presents a separate set of challenges. The proposed centre will focus on improving understanding of which measures produce results, how much they cost and whether they can be implemented successfully in different locations.

By combining academic research with practical testing and collaboration, the programme aims to support more effective climate adaptation investment across the UK. Its findings could play an important role in shaping how Britain prepares for future heatwaves, flooding, droughts and other environmental pressures, while helping protect communities, essential services and economic activity from the growing impacts of climate change.