The United Kingdom is gravely unprepared for the intensifying impacts of global heating, with millions of schools, offices, and homes at risk from rising temperatures and extreme weather, according to a new report by the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC). The study highlights systemic neglect in climate adaptation across the built environment and warns of increasing threats to public health, infrastructure, and economic stability.
The report paints a stark picture of a country lagging behind on resilience planning as the climate emergency escalates. According to UKGBC, a significant portion of the UK’s public buildings—including more than 20,000 schools and hundreds of government offices—are ill-equipped to withstand prolonged heatwaves or flooding. Many structures were designed in a cooler, wetter era and lack proper ventilation, insulation, or flood defences.
Of particular concern is the vulnerability of low-lying towns and urban areas near rivers and coasts, where outdated drainage systems and poor flood mitigation could leave tens of thousands exposed. The report estimates that more than 570,000 properties in England alone face a high risk of flooding, a figure set to rise sharply by 2050 without urgent intervention.
Schools face specific risks as children are increasingly exposed to unsafe temperatures in poorly ventilated classrooms. The report cites multiple studies linking high indoor temperatures to reduced concentration and productivity, and warns that without immediate adaptation, heat waves could become a persistent educational and health hazard.
Beyond structural concerns, the UKGBC criticises policymakers for prioritising decarbonisation efforts—such as energy efficiency and emissions reduction—without equal investment in climate resilience. While net zero remains essential, the group stresses that resilience and adaptation must be treated as twin pillars of sustainability.
Industry experts have joined calls for a nationwide retrofit programme, focusing on passive cooling, flood defence retrofitting, and heat-resilient materials. They also urge the creation of a comprehensive building adaptation strategy, backed by central government funding and enforced through regulation.
The report’s release comes as the UK experiences a warmer-than-average June, with parts of the south already surpassing seasonal norms. Meteorologists expect increasingly erratic patterns, including heavy summer downpours and heat spikes, both of which strain the existing infrastructure.
Without swift and coordinated action, the UK risks turning its homes and workplaces into pressure points in a growing climate crisis, the UKGBC concludes.
REFH – newshub finance
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