It is essential the organisations responsible for vital services and infrastructure are making the necessary plans to prepare for the risks from a changing climate.

The Climate Change Act 2008 introduced a new power for the Secretary of State to direct “reporting authorities” (companies with functions of a public nature such as water and energy utilities) to prepare reports on how they are assessing and acting on the risks and opportunities from a changing climate.

In this first round of reporting (2009-11), 91 organisations (PDF 50 KB) (reporting authorities) have been issued with Directions to report.

Reporting authorities must:

• follow the requirements as outlined in their Direction to report (PDF 50 KB)
• have regard to Statutory Guidance (PDF 300 KB) which sets out the processes that organisations need to go through to assess the risks from climate change and draw up adaptation plans

Although reporting authorities are only legally required to follow the Statutory Guidance, the following sources of information may also be useful:

• Frequently asked questions and answers (PDF 300 KB) on the Adaptation Reporting Power
• The Evaluation Framework (PDF 8 MB) detailing how the reports will be evaluated
• Additional information for infrastructure companies
• The UK Climate Impact Programme’s website
• The Environment Agency’s supplementary guidance

Received reports

• Adaptation Reporting Power received reports – Reports that have been received so far from the benchmarker organisations, water utility companies, electricity generators, electricity transmitters, electricity distribution, gas transporters, economic regulator, road and rail, ports, airports and lighthouse authorities
  

Over the remainder of 2011 we will receive and publish the remainder of the reports on this website, covering:

• Environmental bodies
  

In January 2012 we will publish summaries for each sector and an overall review of the first round of reporting.

If you have any questions or require further information on the Adaptation Reporting Power, please contact us at: acc.mailbox@defra.gsi.gov.uk.

You may also be interested in:

• Adapting to climate change
• Mitigating climate change – Defra’s role
• Climate science and research
• What is the government doing?
• A to Z of adaptation

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, or to offer comments and suggestions, please contact us at acc.mailbox@defra.gsi.gov.uk.