England is unprepared for climate crisis with only 20 staff addressing adaptation

In the United Kingdom, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has been criticized for its inadequate response to the climate crisis, particularly in light of recent extreme weather events. A freedom of information request revealed that only 20 out of 6,613 staff members in Defra are dedicated to climate adaptation efforts. This represents a mere 0.3% of the department's workforce, raising concerns about the government's commitment to addressing the impacts of climate change. The climate change adaptation committee has warned that the UK is lagging behind in necessary adaptations to cope with increasing summer heatwaves and winter rainfall, which are expected to lead to more frequent droughts and flooding. The economic implications of failing to adapt could be significant, with estimates suggesting that the cost could reach between £60 billion and £260 billion annually by 2050, representing 1% to 5% of the UK's GDP. Environmental writer and campaigner Guy Shrubsole, who obtained the data, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that England is