Only 20 of Defra's 6,600 employees focus on climate adaptation amid drought and fires
A freedom-of-information request shows that just 20 staff members out of 6,613 at Defra are dedicated to climate adaptation, a fraction of 0.3% of the department.
A recent freedom-of-information disclosure indicates that merely twenty people are assigned to climate-adaptation work within Defra, representing 0.3% of its 6,613-strong workforce. The climate change adaptation committee has cautioned that peak river flows could rise by as much as 45% and daily water deficits might exceed 5 billion litres, with potential economic costs of £60 billion to £260 billion a year by 2050. Guy Shrubsole, an environmental writer, highlighted the staffing shortfall and called on environment secretary Angela Eagle to boost both personnel and funding.
NGOs such as the Wildlife Trusts and Friends of the Earth are demanding a national plan that includes ecological restoration and stricter emissions controls. The government, led by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, has yet to address the escalating heat, drought and wildfire crises, prompting calls for an emergency COBRA meeting and additional firefighting resources.
Why it matters
The tiny adaptation team leaves the UK vulnerable to costly floods, water shortages and wildfires as climate impacts intensify.
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