The UK government has been accused of falling behind in the race to tackle climate change putting people and wildlife under increasing risk.

The warning came as The Wildlife Trusts published their new assessment of the effects of climate change on nature across the UK.

The report, Resilient Nature, highlighted how much-loved species and habitats are faring across The Wildlife Trusts’ 2,600 nature reserves in response to the changing climate and extreme weather over the past year.

Whilst summer’s headlines were dominated by heatwaves and drought, the report revealed that over the past 12 months it has been extreme changes in weather patterns that have been the most damaging overall, with the natural world bearing much of the brunt.

The Trusts added the latest UK State of Climate report made clear that this weather chaos – with more frequent record temperatures, drought, fire and flooding – is now the norm. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is hard at work safeguarding the natural world from the worst of climate extremes. Examples include:

​Kathryn Brown OBE, director of climate change and evidence at The Wildlife Trusts, says: “Our new report reveals that climate change is accelerating at a frightening pace, with worrying impacts on wildlife and nature reserves – as well as on human health and our future resilience as an economy. Yet while Wildlife Trust staff and volunteers across the UK race to adapt the way that we care for our land, Government action to address climate change is fast falling behind.

“The events in southern Europe – where wildfires and floods have imperilled both people and wildlife – should sound the alarm loudly: we are shockingly underprepared for such extremes here in the UK. The UK Government must rapidly undertake a major overhaul of adaptation policy, with increased funding and coordination, in order to tackle this accelerating threat head on.”

The report added: “Climate change is accelerating. This year and last, climate scientists have warned that the world is about to breach the 1.5°C warming threshold, which has stood as the target global warming limit for the past 10 years under the Paris Agreement.

“The British public continue to show high levels of concern about climate change1. As impacts worsen, every bit of avoided warming matters, but the need to adapt to climate change alongside efforts to reduce emissions is becoming ever more urgent.

“Our UK wildlife is bearing the brunt of more chaotic extreme weather and seasonal shifts. Spring 2025 was the warmest since records began and the sunniest since 1910 across the UK. Drought conditions hit many parts of the country through summer 2025, following extensive periods of flooding over winter 2024. Multiple heatwaves occurred in 2025 with yellow and amber warnings for public health. The habitats we care for across the UK are becoming increasingly exposed to flooding, drought, extreme heat and fire.”

It continued: “Given the scale of risk, the UK Government should rethink its whole approach to adaptation. In particular, we urge them to create new emergency response plans for extreme wildfire, flood, drought and heat, looking at scenarios that consider the impacts already happening in southern Europe. These plans need to include consultation and partnership working with major landholders, including The Wildlife Trusts. We need joined up governance and urgent delivery on adaptation.”