March 2024 - Climate adaptation in UK homes - Energy suppliers’ role

As businesses at the forefront of environmental and “ social challenges and with a presence in the home, Energy companies energy companies have a responsibility, and are in a have a responsibility unique position, to prepare their customers for the to their customers climate risks ahead. [...] The first ever temperature over 40°C was recorded in the UK during 2022 and sea levels have risen around by 16.5cm over the past thirty years.9,10 Deaths due to overheating have rocketed: during the UK heatwaves of 2022, excess deaths were six per cent (3,271) higher than the five year average.11 The chair of the Adaptation Committee of the Climate Change Committee (CCC) has declared a “lost decad. [...] Engaging the public on climate adaptation “Residents often face Due to the limited focus on climate adaptation in government prohibitive costs or policy and the media, it is likely people are largely unaware of lack the power to what climate adaptation will mean for them over the coming decades. [...] The most significant number of customers are concentrated in the South of England and there are also noteworthy clusters of customers in South Wales and the North of Scotland. [...] Forty four per cent of OVO customers fall to support the adaptation transition and the ways into this category as the group most in need of political in which they link to mitigation plans, ie expanded change to move the dial to help them adapt.