Policy paper

Climate adaptation strategy for transport

Updated 18 December 2025

The climate adaptation strategy for transport includes actions to set long term strategic direction for adapting the transport sector to the impacts of climate change.

Ministerial foreword

The climate crisis is growing more urgent and the government is committed to accelerating to net zero. However, in recent years, we have witnessed an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events due to climate change.

Our changing climate is already adversely impacting UK transport. Increasingly frequent and severe flooding, heatwaves, storms and sea-level rise are damaging assets, disrupting services and reducing reliability across transport modes. For example, rails buckle in extreme heat, roads are washed out by heavy rainfall and ports and airports face rising disruption. These impacts are reducing the wider resilience of our transport system and are no longer rare – they are affecting performance, safety and investment decisions today.

A well-functioning transport system is integral to growth. So, whilst we continue to decarbonise the transport system, we must also ensure it is resilient to the impacts of climate change.

Disruption from extreme weather creates costs to the sector and wider economy. This includes repair and lost revenue costs to transport operators and infrastructure owners and journey disruption and cancellation costs to users. This can have wider consequences, including inhibiting the movement of goods and preventing people from accessing jobs and services. Early investment in climate adaptation can reduce costs and induce wider growth benefits and should be focused on where it is most economically efficient to do so.

Adapting to our changing climate is a long-term process, shaped by uncertainty. This strategy sets out our vision for a climate-resilient transport system that underpins growth, keeps people and goods moving, and supports every part of the UK economy. It describes a dual track of actions and policies to help address climate risks now, alongside defining what a climate-resilient transport system looks like over the next few years.

This strategy does not aim to present all the solutions to this complex and evolving challenge. However, it provides clarity, a clear direction of travel, and takes great strides forward, building on the knowledge within the sector and innovations that our partners are already delivering.

Keir Mather MP

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation)

Summary of actions in the strategy

To set long-term strategic direction for adapting the transport sector, we will:

• provide assurance and confidence by setting stronger objectives for climate adaptation
• implement climate resilience standards by 2030 as committed to in UK infrastructure: a 10 year strategy

To enable transport operators to mainstream climate adaptation, we are:

• exploring options for developing transport appraisal guidance following the recent addition of adaptation concepts into transport analysis guidance (TAG)
• co-sponsoring a new publicly available standard that will set out how to develop climate adaptation pathways for infrastructure
• developing guidance to support the transport sector to identify interdependencies and cascading climate impacts
• developing guidance to support the implementation of measures that increase climate resilience while also enhancing natural habitats and biodiversity

To strengthen the evidence base that underpins decision making, we are:

• co-funding the the National Hub for Decarbonised, Adaptable and Resilient Transport Infrastructures research (DARe), delivering research, data and tools to support adaptation action in the transport sector
• rolling out a climate resilience research programme to accelerate the development of guidance, tools and solutions on climate-related risks and vulnerabilities of the transport system
• publishing foundational research in early 2026 that examines what data exists to assess the resilience of the transport network to climate change and identifying actions to fill gaps
• delivering a climate risk data improvement plan for transport

Focusing on distinct parts of the transport sector, we are taking practical action:

• the Department for Transport (DfT) will provide £1 billion funding for key local highway enhancements projects to enhance and repair run-down transport infrastructure and futureproof England’s local road network
• National Highways will expand adaptation within the third Road Investment Strategy, with a stronger focus on long-term climate adaptation strategies
• Network Rail will establish their first regional long-term adaptation pathway strategies to identify high-priority locations for adaptation action
• DfT and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will implement a suite of measures to improve awareness, understanding and planning for climate risks across the aviation sector
• DfT will trial a regular monitoring survey for the maritime sector to gather information on the disruptions from climate change

See the full list of actions section for more information.

Introduction

Policy background

In 2024, DfT consulted on a draft strategy titled Fit for a changing climate? Adapting the UK’s transport system. This is DfT’s flagship policy under the third National Adaptation Programme (NAP3). DfT published a summary of consultation responses – the strategy described here is the government’s response to the 2024 consultation.

A total of 125 responses were received during the consultation period. There was broad support for the strategy with requests from respondents centred around funding, guidance and regulation.

These themes were:

• funding to support adaptation measures
• greater access to training and skilled resourcing
• more guidance on assessing climate risk
• a standardised approach to adaptation reporting across government
• more tools and data to support decision making

Many respondents said the introduction of regulation to aid reporting on adaptation action would be welcomed. However, respondents also highlighted that if this were to be developed, impacts on the daily operations of businesses should be considered.

Purpose and remit

This document sets out the actions that DfT and the transport sector are taking, or planning to take, to ensure the transport system is prepared for the impacts of our changing climate.

Definitions

‘Transport system’ includes everything involved in transporting people and goods.

The ‘transport network’ refers to the specific physical infrastructure and routes that connect different locations, enabling the movement of people and goods.

The transport network is the ‘what’ – the physical infrastructure, while the transport system provides the ‘how’ – the processes and methods used to utilise that infrastructure.

Adaptation is a devolved matter. Provisions made under the Climate Change Act 2008 applies to all of the UK, but Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are required under the act to have their own plans for climate adaptation. Transport operators and regulators have different regional boundaries and DfT’s responsibility varies by mode of transport.

For example, DfT has no responsibility for roads outside of England, as roads are a devolved matter. However, aviation policy is largely a reserved matter, while planning and surface access policies are devolved.

As well as viewing transport as a system, freight and supply chains are considered in – but are not the focus of – this strategy. Therefore, the remit of this strategy will vary depending on the lens of the reader.

Contact: dftadaptationteam@dft.gov.uk for more information.

Our vision

A well-adapted transport system that is resilient to the changing climate

Even as the climate changes, when extreme weather and associated impacts are experienced, our transport system continues to operate, wherever possible. People can travel with confidence and goods reach their destination on time, enabling the economy to grow.

This requires a network that is flexible, responsive, reliable and operates safely. To achieve this, transport operators understand and manage the immediate and long-term climate-related risks and vulnerabilities of the transport system.

To ensure we can achieve this vision, we need to enhance our understanding of climate impacts through robust evidence. This will allow the sector to mainstream adaptation into their processes, governance and decision making and empower a systems-based approach to addressing climate risks.

Government is setting the direction, inspired by adaptation leadership in Network Rail and National Highways and in local areas, but success depends on a comprehensive approach. We need:

• local authorities, operators and asset owners to integrate climate resilience into decision-making
• data owners to build and share information to help strengthen the evidence base
• investors and funders to align resources with risk-based adaptation priorities

By working together, we can move the dial from reactive response to proactive adaptation, to help protect our economy and our communities to ensure the reliability of the UK transport system in the years ahead.

Adaptation supporting growth

Early investment in climate adaptation can help reduce costs from weather-related damage and disruption and induce wider growth benefits. These include:

• increasing network efficiency through greater resilience and reliability, connecting people to jobs and neighbourhoods
• improving safety and reducing risks to passengers and staff
• achieving lower maintenance and repair costs, fewer compensation claims and less revenue lost

There is some uncertainty regarding how, where and when weather impacts from climate change will occur and, therefore, the risks posed to our transport system.

However, even if acute extreme weather events or the chronic long-term shift in weather do not occur to the projected level of severity, investing in climate adaptation can promote wider benefits regardless. These include:

• inducing local economic growth by increased confidence to invest in an area through reduced risk of damage and disruption from weather events

• generating social and environmental co-benefits, such as through nature-based adaptation solutions, which enhance biodiversity, improve air quality and help to achieve our net zero goal

A study delivered as part of the third Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA3) (PDF) found that, across multiple sectors, adaptation measures can deliver a strong return on the investment – in the order of £2 to £10 of benefits per £1 of investment, depending on the scheme.

The Office for Budget Responsibility estimated that physical damage from climate change could lower GDP by 3.2% to 7.8% by 2074 (central estimate compared to a ‘no climate change’ scenario).

In addition to impacts on GDP, extreme weather also incurs direct costs for transport operators. Between 2006 and 2021, weather-related incidents cost Network Rail over £1 billion in compensation payments (PDF). The 2013 to 2014 winter floods caused significant disruption to the Strategic Road Network, with costs estimated to be £180 million (PDF).

The risk of damage and disruption from climate change to transport is expected to grow. The Environment Agency’s flood risk assessment shows that as of 2024, 38% of roads and 37% of railways in England are at risk of flooding. By 2050, this is projected to increase to 46% for road and 54% for rail.

A systems-based approach

We need an integrated approach to adapting the transport system. Actions should not be taken in isolation. Instead, we must understand how they contribute to and enhance a dynamic, interconnected system.

We will do this by:

• setting the long-term direction for the transport sector
• enabling collaboration between operators
• supporting the identification of interdependent risks

Setting a clear strategic direction

In the government’s 10-year UK infrastructure strategy (10YIS), the government committed to exploring how stronger adaptation objectives can be set to improve preparedness for the impacts of climate change. These objectives will be based on an agreed planning assumption that will specify the minimum climate scenario for which we should be preparing and a timeframe.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) wrote to the Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) adaptation committee to request guidance on the minimum scenario and timeframe. In October 2025, the adaptation committee responded and advised Defra that the UK should ‘at a minimum, prepare the country for the weather extremes that will be experienced if global warming levels reach 2°C above preindustrial levels by 2050’.

The government is considering this advice before setting the common planning assumption of a minimum climate scenario and timeframe, against which objectives should be developed, including for the transport sector. Setting a planning assumption was a key request from stakeholders during our 2024 consultation and will, therefore, provide long-awaited assurance to transport operators.

DfT will develop objectives against the planning assumption, setting out the department’s ambitions for adapting the transport system to the changing climate in the fourth national adaptation programme (NAP4). To develop transport-specific objectives, DfT will work with the transport sector.

Given the complexity of the transport network and the developing evidence base on the impacts of climate change, it will take time to develop robust and measurable objectives. The objectives set in NAP4 will be iterated through subsequent NAP cycles.

Standards can be used to demonstrate what climate resilience looks like for different modes of transport, such as expected levels of service in extreme weather or time to resume a service following an outage. The 2024 consultation found there was broad support for the development of such standards.

The 10YIS committed to strengthening resilience standards and identifying new standards where needed. Adaptation objectives and their delivery plans will include resilience standards, where appropriate, to define the intended level of resilience for systems and assets. DfT will build upon the existing evidence base to inform standards and objectives.

Sector collaboration

The success of adaptation in the transport sector will rely on a collaborative approach to addressing climate risk and enabling the adoption of systems thinking.

Great British Railways (GBR) is an excellent example of taking a systems-based approach as work progresses to bring track and train together under public ownership. GBR will accelerate collaboration between rail infrastructure managers and service providers to build resilience across geographies, thereby increasing the reliability of the customer experience.

DfT is promoting collaboration within modes to enhance adaptation action. In partnership with the CAA, Met Office and the aviation industry, we will review public service weather warnings in line with operational risk thresholds to improve preparedness during extreme weather events, minimising disruption to passengers and operations. DfT and the CAA will encourage aviation operators to identify operational lessons learnt following severe weather events, ensuring that these are fed into risk registers and discussions.

A maritime resilience working group will be established to promote cross-industry collaboration, engagement with international forums and best practice on resilience issues, with a focus on climate adaptation.

DfT is exploring levels of awareness of climate risks within public transport (buses and trams) with a view to further engaging operators on climate adaptation.

Within transport, there are many sub-systems and the UK freight system is particularly complex. Taking a system-wide view, the plan for freight will incorporate actions from this strategy to strengthen resilience and efficiency, which will help ensure freight systems can withstand and adapt to climate impacts while remaining efficient and sustainable.

Transport organisations are facing shared challenges when addressing their climate risks (PDF), including a skills and capability gap. DfT is collaborating with the Met Office on their new training service that aims to improve understanding and application of climate information and data.

Interdependencies

The UK transport system is highly interdependent, both across modes (between rail, roads, aviation, maritime, buses and trams) and across sectors (for example, with water, energy, digital, health, waste and emergency services). Climate resilience efforts in transport can be undermined by the lack of preparedness in another sector.

Case study: aviation climate adaptation working group

DfT created the UK aviation climate adaptation group in 2025, which is co-chaired by the CAA and Airports UK. The group brings together members of the UK aviation sector to enhance understanding of the links between emerging climate-related risks and existing vulnerabilities between the UK and European network. As part of this group, the CAA will coordinate an annual progress review with operators who reported in the fourth adaptation reporting round.

Adaptation measures focused on a single mode or asset can underestimate systemic risks and miss opportunities for co-benefits. Responses to the 2024 consultation recognised this, with widespread support for a ‘whole-system resilience lens’.

DfT is developing guidance to support transport operators to identify their upstream interdependencies and the cascading failures associated with their climate risks.

Case study: Transport for London’s interdependencies project

This climate change project combined systems mapping with a climate interdependency risk assessment for the London land-based transport sector. It focused on road and rail infrastructure assets that are dependent on other services, for example, power or water sectors, to continue functioning. 114 climate interdependent risks were identified.

The climate interdependency risk assessment was foundational, identifying key interdependencies with the power sector, urban drainage and telecoms. The potential for climate interdependency risks to increase in the 2050s was noted as decarbonisation, electrification and changes in climate hazards lead to greater impacts from upstream interdependencies with the power sector.

Mainstreaming adaptation

Transport operators must understand the climate risks to their business, make adaptation a leadership priority and ensure that it is embedded into operational and governance processes. Transport regulators have a crucial role in promoting and ensuring the safe and reliable operation of their network.

Understanding the risks

Transport operators have a duty to assess and manage their climate risks to ensure the long-term viability of their operations and assets.

The awareness of climate risks is increasing in the transport sector. There was a 47% increase in organisations from the transport sector responding to the fourth round of adaptation reporting (ARP4) in 2024 (28 reports) compared to 2021 (19 reports). This reporting process encourages operators to consider adaptation systematically within their organisations, identify gaps and create action plans to address their climate risks^{[footnote 1]}.

Progress continues to be made with 18 local authorities, 3 train operating companies (TOCs) and 2 combined authorities reporting for the first time in ARP4. However, there remains an opportunity to further enhance local leadership on transport adaptation, including from organisations that manage tram and bus services.

Table 1: CCC’s assessment of progress in the transport sector from the 2025 progress report

Outcome for transport	Delivery and implementation	Policies and plans
Asset and system level reliability of rail network	Limited	Good
Asset and system level reliability of strategic road network	Limited	Good
Asset and system level reliability of local roads	Limited	Insufficient
Asset and system level reliability of airport operations	Limited	Partial
Asset and system level reliability of port operators	Insufficient	Limited
Interdependencies identified and managed	Limited	Limited

Source: CCC analysis.

The 2025 CCC adaptation progress report rated the rail and strategic road networks as ‘good’ for their adaptation policies and plans (2 of only 3 sectors across 56 sectors to receive this rating). However, the report identified that significant progress is needed to deliver and implement adaptation across all transport modes (Table 1).

Defra will consult on the process for the fifth reporting round in 2026. Organisations will be invited to participate in reporting, which will conclude in 2029. DfT will continue to promote participation from transport operators in adaptation reporting and collaborate with contributors to ARP4 on progress against actions.

For example, working in partnership with the British Ports Association and UK Major Ports Group, DfT will support UK ports and operators in building awareness of the importance of climate adaptation and encourage participation in ARP5. Ports and operators will be invited to share lessons learnt following severe weather events, ensuring these are captured in risk registers and inform preparedness for future severe weather events.

Case study: informing adaptation through data-driven tools

The DARe Hub is developing transferable solutions to help local, regional and national decision-makers make informed judgements about the impact of climate change on their transport infrastructure. DARe is developing the ‘transport performance and risk analysis framework’, it comprises 2 key components:

• Decision support process: helps users to understand the broader implications of infrastructure choices, including sustainability and resilience. For example, asset managers can assess the environmental impact of maintenance decisions, or senior managers can identify appropriate investments to address adaptation or capacity needs within financial and environmental constraints.

• Integrated modelling platform (IMP): combines models and datasets to simulate climate-related disruptions to transport infrastructure and users and explores adaptation options to increase resilience. Built on open-source models and datasets, the IMP is transferable across UK regions.

Local transport plan guidance will be updated by DfT and outline the need for enhanced local leadership on adaptation. There is also an opportunity to further embed adaptation as the government’s guidance on local growth plans highlights that spatial development strategies should set out how authorities will increase climate resilience.

Embedding resilience and adaptation into decision-making

Adaptation must be embedded into all stages of decision-making if climate risks are to be addressed effectively and equitably. 

Transport infrastructure projects bidding for funding from DfT are required to address the climate risks in their proposals. Looking ahead, DfT will be exploring options for developing transport appraisal guidance, following the recent addition of adaptation concepts into transport analysis guidance (PDF) (TAG).

Adaptation measures that improve climate resilience while also enhancing natural habitats and biodiversity are known as nature-based solutions. DfT will develop guidance on the types of solutions that transport operators could implement in different contexts, along with methodologies, tools and lessons learned to support good practice.

DfT is co-sponsoring the development of a new publicly available specification PAS 3090 adaptation to climate change – adaptation pathways for infrastructure systems and a supporting guidance document. This standard will provide a specification for how to develop climate adaptation pathways for infrastructure.

Network Rail and HS2: adaptation pathways and expected service levels

Network Rail and High Speed Two (HS2) are developing a set of adaptation pathways to understand where routes and services are most exposed to climate risks and the adaptation action needed now and in the future. For example, an adaptation pathway might find that at the current level of risk, adaptation action A is sufficient to maintain services but if the risk increases to a pre-determined ‘trigger point’ in the future, adaptation action B will then need to be taken.

Through the adaptation pathways project, the industry will better understand the investment needed for the rail network. Alongside this, Network Rail will work with industry, government and the regulator to agree expected levels of service during adverse and extreme weather events by the end of 2027.

HS2’s ARP4 report (PDF) and Network Rail’s ARP4 report (PDF) also include comprehensive action plans with details on adaptation activities, implementation timelines and risk ownership.

Incentivising adaptation action

DfT is promoting a range of initiatives that will address climate risks to transport.

Supporting financially

To improve the condition and resilience of England’s road network, government announced a structures fund as part of the 2025 Spending Review. The fund will inject cash into repairing run-down bridges, decaying flyovers and worn-out tunnels across Britain and ensure other transport infrastructure is both more resilient to extreme weather events and to the demands of modern transport – making everyday journeys safer, smoother and more dependable.

Updating guidance

DfT, in partnership with the UK Roads Leadership Group (UKRLG), is updating the ‘Code of Practice for Well Managed Highways’ to provide guidance to local highway authorities on maintaining highway infrastructure in a changing climate.

Embedding adaptation in business planning

For the first time, the annual business plans 2025 to 2026 for the 14 DfT contracted TOCs included adaptation business commitments. These were to:

• complete the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) maturity matrix assessment
• attend rail’s adaptation working group
• complete a weather resilience and climate change adaptation strategy by January 2026

DfT expects National Highways will expand the role of climate change adaptation within Road Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3) as it refines its plans, objectives and funding framework, with a stronger focus on long-term adaptation strategies.

Exploring the role of the regulator

Acknowledging the CCC recommendation on climate resilience remits for regulators, DfT will continue to work with the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) and the CAA as they continue to embed climate adaptation into their regulatory duties and regularly monitor progress in their sectors.

Through commercial routes

Supply chain disruptions driven by climate change can pose significant risks to the timely delivery of transport infrastructure and to the availability of critical construction materials. To strengthen resilience, DfT will review its commercial processes to ensure climate considerations are embedded from the outset of appropriate projects and reflected through procurement and contractual mechanisms.

DfT will encourage transport operators to undertake stress testing exercises to address the resilience of their supply chains and develop contingency measures where climate vulnerabilities are identified.

Empowering senior leadership

Organisational cultural change needs to be driven and owned by senior leaders and responses to the 2024 consultation indicated clear support for this action. All transport organisations should identify a senior leader who will be responsible for increasing awareness of climate risks in their organisation.

An example of good practice is the climate adaptation capability framework, developed under the Adaptation Scotland Programme, which provides a step-by-step guide on driving an organisational culture shift depending on the maturity of the organisation.

Robust evidence

Effective climate adaptation requires robust data. While work is underway across the sector to build the evidence base, gaps remain. High-quality data on climate hazards, infrastructure vulnerabilities and impacts will enable transport operators, policymakers and planners to develop adaptation strategies and prioritise investment with confidence.

Examining what data currently exists and how to improve it

To understand how climate change will impact transport and identify the most appropriate adaptation measures, the transport sector needs access to robust data. Data enables transport professionals to:

• develop a baseline and monitor progress over time
• examine trends and forecast to understand where further intervention is needed
• appraise the costs and benefits to support effective investment
• evaluate impacts, including whether and how objectives have been met

Climate adaptation is a complex area in which to build evidence because it is made up of multiple interlinked factors. This includes weather hazards, asset damage and performance loss, journey disruption, repair costs and wider impacts.

Research already delivered across the sector includes a:

• DfT-funded evidence review of the impacts of climate change on transport infrastructure and the costs and benefits of adaptation
• DfT-funded research to identify and consolidate metrics for assessing the resilience of the transport network to climate change and identify actions required to fill gaps
• RSSB-led research to identify metrics to measure the rail industry’s preparedness for a changing climate

While work such as the above progresses, the evidence base is still developing. DfT will deliver a step-by-step programme to build evidence, focusing on foundational priorities (Table 2).

Table 2: step-by-step overview of workstreams to develop data and evidence

Workstream	Stage	Complete	Underway	Longer term
WS1	Baselining and monitoring	Conduct research to: - assess existing data and gaps - identify metrics required	Develop data improvement plan	Identify metrics to prioritise and explore need for new guidance and methodologies
WS2	Appraisal	Develop climate risk assessment guidance and introduced concepts into TAG	N/A	Explore options to develop climate scenarios and appraisal guidance for valuation Develop sector case studies
WS3	Trends and forecasting	N/A	Develop modelling tools (for example, co-funded through DARe and digital twin programme)	Share learning and iterate tools
WS4	Evaluation	N/A	N/A	Use data improvements from WS1 to support evaluation projects Develop sector case studies

DfT is collaborating with modal operators to promote data gathering on the impacts of climate change and to help them understand how their infrastructure is being affected.

In addition, DfT will pilot a monitoring survey for the maritime sector to gather data on sector preparedness for disruptions from climate change and impacts on the sector. The CAA, with support from DfT, is also exploring options for regularly analysing data on how extreme weather affects aviation operations and infrastructure in the context of climate change.

Understanding future vulnerabilities

To support the transport sector in better understanding climate risks, DfT has developed several tools, as requested in the 2024 consultation:

• transport hazard summaries (co-developed with the Met Office and partners), including those related to climate change, which provide a starting point to understand transport climate risks and how operators can increase their resilience

• climate risk assessment guidance for the transport sector, designed for a non-expert reader, which provides a step-by-step process and the tools needed to complete a risk assessment

• an online database of adaptation best practice case studies, which helps infrastructure managers to identify appropriate adaptation action following completion of their risk assessment

The sector needs to be able to assess what future climate vulnerabilities face the transport system and how this may impact assets and operations through modelling. DfT is supporting foundational work to help build this capability. This includes setting out a long-term digital twin programme, which aims to support network management, resilience planning, and crisis response, and funding modelling through the DARe hub.

In the long term, DfT will explore the feasibility of developing climate analytical scenarios which could support the integration of projected climate impacts into transport analysis.

Alongside this, the CAA will also explore how to enhance internal capabilities on climate scenario modelling to support UK airports in assessing future climate risks.

DfT will continue to explore how AI can help the transport system adapt to a changing climate in line with the commitment in the Transport AI action plan.

Setting direction for the wider research community

Research and innovation challenges for adaptation in the UK are set out in the 2025 Climate Adaptation Research and Innovation Framework (CARIF). The framework highlights how weather-related disruption to transport can cause cascading impacts, resulting in high financial costs and compromising safety. CARIF provides clear direction on the needs of transport adaptation research.

The Transport Research and Innovation Board (TRIB) is coordinating a collaborative research programme to accelerate the delivery of cross-modal research and innovation, of which climate resilience is a key theme.

By mid-2026, DfT aims to operationalise a climate resilience research programme underpinned by TRIB and CARIF. This programme will:

• accelerate the development of guidance, tools and solutions on climate-related risks and vulnerabilities of the transport system
• help enhance climate adaptation planning across the sector

Conclusion

To enable people to travel with confidence and goods to reach their destination on time, we need a transport system that is responsive, reliable and operates safely in the face of growing climate risks. This strategy is a clear step forward in supporting the transport sector to manage these risks, providing clarity and direction on this complex issue.

We are in the initial stages of our adaptation journey. As we move forward, we will continue to strengthen this strategy and review our progress against these commitments. We will view the challenges we are facing through different lenses, working in partnership with transport operators to identify regional and place-based approaches, informed by robust evidence.

Adaptation is fundamental to the way we deliver transport – supporting growth, security and public confidence in the UK’s transport network.

List of actions

A systems-based approach

Set a planning assumption for climate adaptation

Government is exploring how stronger adaptation objectives can be set to improve preparedness for the impacts of climate change by NAP4, based on a to-be-agreed planning assumption of a minimal climate scenario and timeframe.

Transport specific adaptation objectives

DfT will work with the transport sector on how to set system-level objectives for transport, based on a to-be-agreed planning assumption.

Implement climate resilience standards by 2030

DfT will support the review of resilience standards, a commitment in UK infrastructure: a 10-year strategy. Where appropriate, any adaptation objectives and their delivery plans will include resilience standards to define the intended level of resilience for systems and assets.

Interdependencies guidance

DfT will develop guidance to support transport operators to identify their upstream interdependencies and the cascading failures associated with their climate risks.

Met Office training service

DfT is collaborating with the Met Office on their new training service that aims to improve understanding and application of climate information and data.

Rail – embedding adaptation in GBR frameworks

DfT and the rail sector are working to embed adaptation into frameworks for operation under GBR.

Aviation – weather warning service review

DfT and Met Office to work closely to strengthen the Aviation Warnings strategy to improve awareness, consistency, and decision-making across the sector, using the Aviation Warning Service (AWS) and National Severe Weather Warning Service (NSWWS) during adverse weather.

Public transport

DfT will explore awareness of climate risks for buses and trams with a view to engaging operators on transport adaptation.

Mainstreaming adaptation

Nature-based solutions guidance

DfT will develop guidance to support the implementation of adaptation measures that improve climate resilience while also enhancing natural habitats and biodiversity.

Adaptation pathways specification

DfT is co-sponsoring the development of a new specification to support climate adaptation pathways – a flexible, decision-focused approach to planning for climate change.

TAG update

DfT will explore options for developing transport appraisal guidance, following the recent addition of adaptation concepts into TAG.

Commercial processes

DfT will review its commercial processes to ensure climate considerations are embedded from the outset of appropriate projects and reflected through procurement and contractual mechanisms.

DfT will also encourage transport operators to undertake stress testing exercises to address the resilience of their supply chains and develop contingency measures where climate vulnerabilities are identified.

Adaptation reporting power

DfT will collaborate with the ORR and CAA to continue promoting participation from transport operators in adaptation reporting and collaborate with contributors to ARP4 on progress against actions.

Senior leadership

All transport organisations should identify a senior leader who will be responsible for increasing awareness of climate risks in their organisation.

Role of regulators

DfT will continue to work with the ORR and the CAA to ensure that they are embedding climate adaptation into their regulatory duties and regularly monitoring progress in their sectors.

CAA will encourage aviation operators to conduct reviews following disruption caused by extreme weather events and will promote understanding of climate risks affecting airports and NATS, through targeted training and increased climate analysis.

Updated local transport plan guidance

DfT will ensure the guidance update outlines the need for enhanced local leadership on adaptation.

Maritime – resilience working group

DfT will establish a maritime resilience group to promote cross-industry collaboration for operators, major ports, trade groups, the Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) and General Lighthouse Authorities.

Road (local highways) – £1 billion fund for local highways enhancement projects

Government will inject funding into repairing run-down bridges, decaying flyovers and worn-out tunnels through a new Structures Fund, improving resilience to extreme weather and to the demands of modern transport.

Road – update code of practice on well-maintained highways infrastructure

DfT will update this code of practice to include guidance on managing and maintaining highway infrastructure in a changing climate.

Road (strategic roads) – National Highways – RIS3

DfT expects National Highways to expand the role of climate change adaptation within RIS3 as it refines its plans, objectives and funding framework, with a stronger focus on long-term adaptation strategies.

Rail – adaptation pathways

Network Rail will establish the first regional long-term adaptation pathway strategies based on assessment of high-priority locations by the end of March 2029.

Rail – TOCs to complete weather resilience and climate change adaptation (WRCCA) strategies

In 2026, TOCs will undertake a high-level climate change risk assessment for their organisation and develop an initial adaptation plan.

Rail – expected service levels

Network Rail will work with industry, government and the regulator to agree expected levels of service during adverse and extreme weather by the end of 2027.

Robust evidence

Climate risk data improvement plan for transport

DfT will deliver a step-by-step programme to build evidence, focusing on foundational priorities.

Measuring resilience and adaptation

DfT will publish research that examines what data exists to assess the resilience of the transport network to climate change and identify actions to fill gaps.

DARe Hub

DfT is co-funding and will exploit the outputs of the DARe research hub, which is delivering research, data and tools to support adaptation across the transport sector.

Deliver climate resilience research through the TRIB

DfT will develop and operationalise a climate resilience research programme to accelerate the development of guidance, tools and solutions on climate-related risks and vulnerabilities of the transport system.

Long-term digital twin programme

DfT will participate in a research programme on digital twins that aims to support network management, resilience planning and crisis response.

Role of AI

DfT will continue to explore how AI can help the transport system adapt to a changing climate in line with the commitment in the transport AI action plan.

Aviation 

The CAA will explore how to enhance internal capabilities on climate scenario modelling to support UK airports in assessing and mitigating future climate risks.

CAA will also explore options for regular analysis of data, with support from the DfT within the context of climate change, to support the aviation industry in understanding the impacts of climate change on the sector.

Maritime – monitoring survey on impacts of climate change

DfT will trial a regular monitoring survey for the maritime sector to gather information on the disruptions from climate change, including the impacts and consequences of extreme weather.

1. The voluntary adaptation reporting power (ARP) derives from a power within the Climate Change Act 2008 and is the primary mechanism for government and the CCC to assess preparedness to the impacts of climate change from bodies with functions of a public nature. ↩