The Climate Change Committee (CCC) has awarded a contract to assess economy-wide water scarcity risks to WSP UK Ltd worth an estimated £296,000.
The project will inform the Fourth UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA4) Government Report which is due to be published in January 2027.
As part of CCRA4, the CCC will be developing a new output to complement the Technical Report as produced in previous CCRAs. This output - to be known as the 'Well-adapted UK report' (WA report) - will focus on the potential for key aspects of the UK adaptation challenge to reduce the climate risks threatening the achievement of key UK policy and societal outcomes.
The aim of the weel-adapted UK report is to provide decision-makers with the necessary evidence to address practical barriers to implenenting adaptation barriers, helping the country to become resilient at pace.
This project will focus on economy-wide water scarcity risks. Changing patterns of non-household water use, particularly in the context of Net Zero, are currently insufficiently understood. WSP will be tasked with answering the following questions:
- How is water demand (particularly for uses outside of the public water system) expected to change by sector, particularly in the context of efforts to reach Net Zero in the UK, and how will this vary by location?
- How will water scarcity risk (at times of drought) change in the UK, accounting for sectoral water demand as well as climate change, population growth and environmental water needs?
- Which adaptation actions are most effective in managing water scarcity risks, particularly outside of public water supply, and what package of adaptation actions could deliver an optimal level of resilience?
The project is supported by a consortium of leading experts. WSP has brought together a strong team that includes HR Wallingford, Cranfield University's Centre for Water, Environment and Development, and Cambridge Econometrics. They will collaborate on addressing key questions about water security risks.
Technical Director for Water Strategic Advisory, Owen Tarrant said:
"We are honoured to support the Climate Change Committee in developing the crucial evidence to help the UK adapt urgently and become more resilient to future water scarcity risks.
"Understanding the threats posed by water scarcity and drought to our economic sectors is essential so that we can implement effective and practical adaptation measures."
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