Climate change harming UK food and ecosystems, report finds

Climate change is already affecting the UK’s food production and ecosystems, with risks increasing in urgency, according to a major national climate assessment published this week. 

Researchers from the University of Reading have played a leading role in the Technical Report of the Fourth Climate Change Risk Assessment – Independent Assessment (CCRA4-IA), produced by the Met Office Academic Partnership. 

The report provides the most up-to-date, evidence-based assessment of the risks the UK faces from climate change and highlights how these are expected to intensify over the coming decades. 

Reading scientists lead key chapter on land, nature and food 

University of Reading researchers co-authored and led Chapter 5: Land, Nature and Food, which assesses risks to agriculture, ecosystems and food systems across the UK. 

The chapter identifies this area as one of the most urgent, with many risks assessed as requiring ‘critical’ attention. 
It highlights that: 

• Extreme weather events are already damaging natural and farmed ecosystems
• Climate-related risks to terrestrial, marine and coastal environments are significant and increasing
• Crop losses, reduced forage yields and heat stress affecting livestock are already being observed
• Interactions between ecosystems, food systems and other pressures are amplifying overall risk
• Climate impacts can disproportionately affect more vulnerable populations

The findings also show that recent evidence highlights greater urgency for addressing risks to land, food and nature, compared with previous assessments. 
Carol Wagstaff, Professor of Crop Quality for Health and co-author of the chapter 5, said: 

 “This assessment shows that climate change is already affecting the UK’s land, food and natural systems in very tangible ways. We are seeing evidence of extreme weather damaging crop and livestock production, creating challenges for food manufacturing, and putting pressure on ecosystems.  

“What stands out is that many of these risks are increasing in urgency, with stronger evidence than in previous assessments. These systems are closely interconnected, so impacts on the natural environment can quickly affect food production and wider society.” 

Understanding the risks 

The Technical Report brings together the latest scientific evidence to assess the magnitude of climate risks and their urgency for further attention, using a consistent framework across sectors. 

Across the UK as a whole, the assessment finds that:

• Climate change is already having widespread negative impacts
• Climate risks are increasing compared to the previous assessment in 2021, reflecting new evidence of accelerating climate change and growing exposure to impacts
• Many risks are expected to reach high or very high levels within the coming decades, with more than half assessed at these levels by the 2030s
• Vulnerable population groups will be disproportionately impacted by the consequences of climate change

Reading expertise in agriculture and food 

The University of Reading has recently launched its AgriFood Futures strategy, which aims to support a future where everyone is able to access sufficient, healthy and sustainable diets with minimal environmental impact. 

The strategy focuses on creating adaptable food systems that can meet human needs in the face of shocks and stresses, alongside responsible food production that protects and enhances natural resources. 

The University of Reading is ranked among the top 30 universities in the world for Agriculture and Forestry (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024), behind only Oxford and Cambridge in the UK. 

 Professor Carol Wagstaff is available for interview. To arrange, contact the University of Reading Press Office on 0118 378 5757 or pressoffice@reading.ac.uk. 

Notes:

The Climate Change Committee is the UK’s independent statutory body that assesses climate risks and advises governments on adapting to climate change. 

The Technical Report is part of the Climate Change Committee’s Independent Assessment of UK Climate Risk (CCRA4-IA). It provides the evidence base to inform future national adaptation planning. 

The Technical Report can be found on the UK Climate Risk website with PDFs for each chapter including Chapter 5: Land, Nature, and Food - UK Climate Risk. 

The Fourth UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA4-IA) report, of which the Technical Report is part, can be found on the Climate Change Committee website.