The government needs to change the planning system and get council support to adapt UK buildings for climate change, a committee of MPs reported today.

The House of Commons environmental audit committee today published its report Adapting to Climate Change. It said the planning system must play a key role in changing buildings to lower their carbon dioxide emissions, particularly existing homes. It said councils needed to address climate change in transport and planning policies.

The report said buildings should also be adapted to increase their resilience to floods, such as those that happened in summer 2007 (pictured) damaging 48,000 homes and 7,000 businesses.

“The country needs to respond flexibly to the risks we face. The Government will need to move quickly to strengthen its new policy framework if it does not lead to the urgent action that is now required. It is vital that we give much more attention to adaptation,” said the report.

It also recommended that government should co-ordinate efforts between different departments on green infrastructure – such as energy efficient and name one department as a “green infrastructure champion” to oversee government policy.

The Royal Commission is set to publish further findings on this report next Tuesday.

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