Act to reduce climate change and its consequences

Climate change is a threat to life on earth as we know it. An important part of our work is helping to prevent future climate change.

But there is also a need to reduce the impacts of climate change as much as possible. We have major responsibilities for managing adaptation to climate change including flooding, drought, sea level rise and coastal erosion.

Currently, 38 per cent of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions are covered by regulatory and economic schemes we currently implement. This will grow to 48 per cent by 2012. The causes and impacts of climate change will inform all of our work.

• See our aims and outcomes for this theme (PDF, 48KB)

Supporting strategies

This element of our strategy is supported by a number of supporting strategies that show in more detail how we will work in specific areas to achieve the aims set out in our strategy: 

• Agriculture and land management supporting strategy (PDF, 1MB)
  Changes to the climate, increasing global population and concerns over water, energy and food security will intensify the competing demands on land in the future.
  Find out more about our work in agriculture

• Angling navigation and recreation supporting strategy (PDF, 1MB)
  In the year from April 2008 to April 2009,around 32 million people visited the rivers, canals and lakes of England and Wales.
  Find out more about our work in recreation

• Biodiversity supporting strategy (PDF, 1MB)
  There is still much to do to secure the variety and numbers of species and habitats in England and Wales.
  
  Find out more about our work with wildlife and conservation

• Climate change and energy sub-strategy (PDF, 1MB)
  Climate change caused by humans is one of the greatest threats to people and the environment.
  Find out more about our work on climate change

• Flood and coastal risk management sub-strategy (PDF, 1MB)
  Over 5.5 million, or one in six, properties are at risk of flooding from all sources across England and Wales.
  Find out more about our work on flooding

• Improving our own environmental performance sub-strategy (PDF, 1MB)
  As well as delivering the environmental benefits resulting from our work, we actively seek ways to reduce any negative impact that our work has on the environment and encourage others to do the same.
  
  Find out more about us

• Regulated business sub-strategy (PDF, 1MB)
  Businesses create wealth and provide society with goods and services. They can also have an impact on the environment.
  Find out more about our work on regulation

• Sustainable places sub-strategy (PDF, 1MB)
  By 2030, there could be up to 30 per cent more households in England and 25 per cent more in Wales. This will put pressure on natural resources and stretch the capacity of some environmental infrastructure.
  Find out more about our work on sustainable places

• Waste and resource management sub-strategy (PDF, 1MB)
  Population growth and consumption patterns are placing an unsustainable burden on the planet's resources.
  Find out more about our work on waste

• Water sub-strategy (PDF, 1MB)
  Water is precious. People want enough to meet their needs and to support wildlife and recreation.
  
  Find out more about our work on water