Defra climate adaptation staffing revealed as 20 amid crisis
Environmental campaigners and the Fire Brigades Union warn of systemic unpreparedness as Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces pressure to address ecological restoration and equipment shortages.
A Freedom of Information request has exposed that only 20 of the 6,600 staff at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) are dedicated to climate adaptation. The figures, obtained by environmental writer Guy Shrubsole, indicate that adaptation work constitutes just 0.3 per cent of the department’s total workforce, despite the agency’s mandate to protect the environment and ensure food security.
The revelation coincides with the UK’s fifth summer heatwave, widespread drought affecting nearly three-quarters of the country, and record wildfire numbers. Defra has been warned by the Climate Change Adaptation Committee that peak river flows could increase by up to 45 per cent, with water supply shortfalls potentially exceeding 5 billion litres daily. The committee estimates that failure to adapt could cost the economy between 1 per cent and 5 per cent of UK GDP annually by 2050, equating to £60 billion to £260 billion per year.
Shrubsole described England as desperately unprepared for the impacts of the climate crisis, urging Environment Secretary Angela Eagle to significantly boost staffing and funding. He noted that Prime Minister Andy Burnham has experienced the effects of climate change firsthand, including flooding in Makerfield and wildfire smoke choking residents in Manchester. Shrubsole called on Burnham to acknowledge the climate emergency and implement a radical plan to transition away from fossil fuels and prepare communities for extreme weather.
Pressure is mounting on Burnham in his first 100 days in office, with the Wildlife Trusts and other environmental NGOs challenging the government to reset its approach to environmental emergencies. Campaigners argue that ecological restoration measures, such as rewetting bogs and managing natural flood defences, are essential for national security and public health. Friends of the Earth policy head Mike Childs stated that Burnham must end his silence on the climate emergency and prioritise protecting communities, while also accelerating the shift to clean energy and ruling out new oil and gas developments.
The operational response to the crisis is also under scrutiny, with 966 wildfires recorded this year, including 458 in July alone. Fire Brigades Union general secretary Steve Wright is calling for the recruitment of 5,000 additional firefighters, highlighting a critical shortage of equipment such as dedicated fixed-wing water-bombing planes. While No 10 announced that Burnham will chair an emergency Cobra meeting to address the extreme heat, with temperatures forecast to reach 38C, the government has yet to address the broader structural deficiencies in climate adaptation and firefighting capabilities.
