Climate Change: Resilience

Debate between Baroness Brown of Cambridge and Lord Katz

Tuesday 10th November 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Katz (Lab)]

I am not entirely sure it would be fair to say what the noble Lord was implying. It is the case that the Government, from the Prime Minister downwards, take this issue of wildfires very seriously. In terms of response, firefighters on the front line will be boosted by additional specialist wildfire teams and state-of-the-art wildfire-specific personal protective equipment, backed up by £45 million. Also, the RAF’s Chinook helicopters and A400M aircraft will be equipped so that they can join in the fight against wildfires and be ready when requested to help crews across the UK battle blazes where they find them.

[Baroness Brown of Cambridge (CB)]

My Lords, I declare my interest as chair of the Adaptation Committee of the Climate Change Committee. It is good to hear of the Government’s commitment to more specific targets for addressing adaptation, but, in the light of their recent announcement that there will be no more changes to building regulations, will the Minister tell us how the Government will ensure that new homes are going to be fit for the future in terms of resilience to flooding, resistance to overheating and, of course, the outstanding water efficiency we need to address the increasing incidence of drought conditions in this country?

[Lord Katz (Lab)]

I thank the noble Baroness for her question and, more importantly, for her work in this area and her long-term commitment to ensuring that we have stronger resilience. To be clear, with regard to the ongoing work of the Government in reforming planning guidance and promoting the building of more houses—particularly social houses—it is absolutely right that we set the right framework for a multitude of resilience factors, whether it is around energy and water conservation or resilience to flood. That is why the Government continue to work with our industry stakeholders, particularly the building sector, to make sure we have the skills, the materials and the know-how so that we have resilient properties in the future.