Co-benefits and trade-offs of UK climate actions: a systematic rapid evidence assessment and rating of effects on climate adaptation and mitigation outcomes [WPE2 deliverable E2.3: final report]

Steller, Rachael; Perring, Mike ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8553-4893; Colonna, Francesco; Clilverd, Hannah ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6771-3302; Fitch, Alice ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6260-8957; Jones, Laurence ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4379-9006; Smithers, Richard J.. 2025 Co-benefits and trade-offs of UK climate actions: a systematic rapid evidence assessment and rating of effects on climate adaptation and mitigation outcomes [WPE2 deliverable E2.3: final report]. Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, 80pp.

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Abstract/Summary

The aim of this work package (WPE2) was to build an understanding of the co-benefits and trade-offs between climate mitigation and adaptation in the United Kingdom (UK) to inform the Government’s efforts to promote decarbonisation and resilience. Knowledge of co-benefits and trade-offs will aid the Government’s identification of no/low regret actions (i.e. actions with little or no trade-offs for either adaptation or mitigation outcomes). To develop this understanding, we have: 1. Identified UK climate actions for assessment from the UK Net Zero Strategy and the Independent Assessment of UK Climate Risk: Advice to Government for the UK’s Third Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA3). 2. Undertaken a systematic Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) to identify and extract relevant evidence regarding UK climate actions from peer-reviewed literature and governmental reports. 3. Based on the evidence assembled by the REA, rated the effect of UK climate actions on UK mitigation and UK adaptation outcomes, and determined confidence in these ratings. 4. Based on the ratings of the effects of UK climate actions, identified key overall findings and caveats, and recommended which actions should be the subject of detailed case studies. 5. Developed case studies for two low/no-regret actions identified: • CA16: Soil conservation • CA5: Aim to reduce direct emissions from public sector buildings by 75% by 2037 compared to 2017 •In general, our assessment determined that the nature-based actions assessed have high co-benefits and no trade-offs in terms of the adaptation and mitigation outcomes assessed in this study. In particular, “Active habitat management to increase resilience” and “Soil conservation”, which are actions included in the CCRA3, have substantial positive effects on climate adaptation and mitigation. •While most of the climate actions identified as having the highest co-benefits and no identified trade-offs are nature-based, other actions, such as “Passive cooling measures” (from the CCRA3) and “Aim to reduce direct emissions from public sector buildings by 75% by 2037 compared to 2017” (from the UK’s Net Zero Strategy) also have large co-benefits and no identified trade-offs. However, both of the latter actions encompass nature-based solutions. Passive cooling measures includes urban greening/trees, and reducing emissions from public buildings can be achieved through use of green roofs. On the other hand, some climate actions have high trade-offs. For instance, engineered removals have a high carbon sequestration potential, but our analysis showed substantial negative impacts for adaptation around natural habitat and competition with farmland (BECCS), and a high energy penalty (DACCS). Climate actions based on increased electrification only have mitigation benefits if further decarbonisation of the grid is assumed, and otherwise potentially present substantial trade-offs. These include trade-offs for adaptation, including decreased adaptive capacity in the face of increasing extreme weather events that impact energy supply and demand. Finally, while some actions were rated as having strong co-benefits and low or no trade-offs, these may vary over time. For example, while the action on “Suitable trees, crops, and livestock for future climate in appropriate locations” (CCRA3) has high co-benefits and no identified trade-offs, benefits for climate mitigation may only be delivered over time, especially regarding tree planting. In early stages a plantation may even lead to net carbon emissions, e.g., if planted on former pasture. Implementation of the action also needs to consider the increasing magnitude and frequency of extreme weather events, as well as incremental climate change, if it is not to lead to maladaptation.

Item Type:	Publication - Report (Project Report)
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Surface Atmosphere Interactions and Effects (2025-)
Funders/Sponsors:	Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access report - full text available via Official URL link.
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Hydrology Agriculture and Soil Science
Date made live:	25 Jun 2024 08:31 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/537626

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