Natural England - Climate change

Climate change

Climate change poses the most serious long-term threat to England’s natural environment because of the damage it will cause to our wildlife and habitats, the landscapes we enjoy and services they provide, including clean water, food and recreation.

The Earth’s climate is changing rapidly in response to an increase in greenhouse gases, caused mainly by human activities. The rate of climate change and its impact on vulnerable landscapes, habitats and our wildlife are of critical concern. 

How can we respond to climate change?

There is an urgent need to reduce global greenhouse gas pollution – a process called mitigation – if we want to avoid potentially catastrophic impacts on the natural environment.

However, climate change will continue over the coming decades because of greenhouse gas emissions that have already entered the atmosphere. So we also urgently need to develop strategies to manage and reduce the effects of a changing climate on society and the environment – a process called adaptation.

As well as the direct effects of climate change, such as increasing temperature, changes in rainfall patterns and sea-level rise, indirect impacts will happen as society responds to climate change. We need to take action to make sure the natural environment can cope with both direct and indirect impacts.

Natural England is therefore committed to action on both mitigation and adaptation. Without adequate and timely action, adaptation will become increasingly challenging.