Vulnerable group climate resilience
Failure to adequately engage communities and vulnerable groups to understand their disproportionate risks from extreme weather events.
Source spread
Where this theme appears
This theme appears across 5 independent accountability sources, so the source mix matters as much as the headline total.
1 PFD report
81 committee recs
3 NAO recs
16 LGO/SPSO decisions
Browse by source
Source-grouped records are useful for tracing where a concern came from. Large sections show the 50 strongest matches for that source; counts still show the full theme total.
Select committee recommendations(81)— showing 50 strongest matches
#55 —
Recommendation: High standards for water and energy consumption and supply must be embedded in the terms of reference for new town delivery vehicles. This provides a unique opportunity for innovative solutions such as grey water systems, and rainwater harvesting. 56 Q …
#51 —
Recommendation: The Committee heard how greywater recycling presents an exciting opportunity to make new towns more resilient to water shortages (whether caused by climate change or faults with mains infrastructure) and cheaper to live in. Drinking water does not necessarily need …
#9 —
Recommendation: High standards for water and energy consumption and supply must be embedded in the terms of reference for new town delivery vehicles. This provides a unique opportunity for innovative solutions such as grey water systems, and rainwater harvesting . (Paragraph …
#18 —
Recommendation: Where possible, the FCDO should look to the latest evidence on locally- led and shock-responsive social protection systems to deal with the impact the climate crisis is having on agriculture as a driver of instability. (Recommendation, Paragraph 68)
#14 —
Recommendation: The government should ensure that it maintains sufficient focus on scaling up the quality and volume of financing for the poorest and most climate-vulnerable countries throughout ICF4. We therefore urge the government to establish a high-minimum share of the UK’s …
#12 —
Recommendation: We urge the government to set geographic targets for the UK’s limited, highly concessional ICF resources to avoid deepening climate-vulnerable countries’ debt distress. Specifically, for LDCs, SIDS, LICs and other highly fragile countries, it should set a minimum share of …
#11 —
Recommendation: Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Low-Income Countries (LICs) are among the hardest hit by the impacts of climate change and are the least responsible for causing it. These countries’ high exposure to climate change impacts …
#9 —
Recommendation: The government should prioritise direct financing, ideally highly concessional resources, such as grant-based public UK ICF, to women-led organisations embedded in local networks. (Recommendation, Paragraph 37)
#8 —
Recommendation: It is well established that women and girls are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change, particularly those who experience multiple forms of marginalisation such as age, disability and ethnicity. Being situated at the forefront of the climate crisis …
#9 —
Recommendation: We heard compelling evidence that climate change poses a growing threat to UK food production and food security. Yet public concern about the use of farmland for solar development appears to be greater than concern about the impact of climate …
#8 —
Recommendation: The Government should use the evidence of this summer’s heatwaves to make the case for the transition directly and without hedging, including publishing UKHSA’s attribution of heat-related deaths and NHS pressures to climate change as they become available, and stating …
#7 —
Recommendation: Public awareness of the health impacts of climate change remains low, although it remains to be seen whether the experiences of heatwaves this summer begins to increase awareness of the ways that climate change is already affecting both public health …
#21 —
Recommendation: While it is the case that instability arising from religious tensions is notable, we do not consider it to be a primary driver of instability across Nigeria, particularly when considered alongside compounding factors, including land disputes resulting from climate change. …
Response status not verified
#8 — Disabled people's needs must be incorporated into all Zero Hunger programming.
Recommendation: Disabled people are particularly vulnerable to hunger and their needs must be incorporated into all Zero Hunger focussed programming. The Government have made important steps in this direction. (Conclusion, Paragraph 31)
Response attribution not verified
#7 — Assess and adjust trade, agriculture, climate, and gender programmes for smallholder farmers.
Recommendation: We recommend the Government assess its trade, agriculture, climate and gender programmes against the impact they have on smallholder farmers. Where necessary, these programmes should be adjusted to mitigate harm against smallholder famers and to enhance their place within sustainable …
Response attribution not verified
#3 — Assess UK climate finance and agricultural investments for climate impact on food systems.
Recommendation: We recommend the Government conduct an assessment of UK climate finance to ensure it addresses the impact of climate change on nutrition and food systems. The UK’s agricultural investments need to be assessed more rigorously for the adaption and mitigation …
Response attribution not verified
#2 — Climate change and hunger remain intrinsically linked, government climate finance for food systems is recognised.
Recommendation: Climate change and hunger are intrinsically linked. We recognise the emphasis the Government is putting on improving the impact of climate finance as it relates to food systems. (Conclusion, Paragraph 15)
Response attribution not verified
#4 — Better integrate climate threat modelling into displacement work planning.
Recommendation: Climate change is a current and growing driver of displacement, and the Department must better integrate the modelling of climate threats into its planning for its displacement work. (Conclusion, Paragraph 48)
Response attribution not verified
#39 — Consult on strengthening insurance in flood resilience and pilot Flood Performance Certificates by 2025.
Recommendation: By the end of 2025, the Government should consult with insurers and stakeholders on strengthening the role of insurance in flood resilience. This should include promoting and simplifying access to the Build Back Better scheme. The Government should support the …
Response attribution not verified
#38 — Begin work on Flood Re successor to ensure continued, affordable flood insurance beyond 2039.
Recommendation: The Government should begin work with the insurance and mortgage sectors to ensure the continued availability and affordability of flood insurance beyond 2039, when the current Flood Re scheme is due to end. This should include options for a successor …
Response attribution not verified
#37 — Flood insurance system is inadequate, threatening household stability and market access without reform.
Recommendation: Flood insurance is not just a financial product but a cornerstone of household and market stability. Without reform, growing risk and the eventual withdrawal of Flood Re will leave vulnerable households uninsured, businesses exposed, and communities at risk of economic …
Response attribution not verified
#36 — Consult on mainstreaming Property Flood Resilience as routine flood recovery and reforming grants.
Recommendation: The Government should consult on how to make Property Flood Resilience (PFR) a routine part of flood recovery. This consultation should explore options for reforming the existing grant scheme to provide consistent, needs-based funding and wider accessibility, including simplifying the …
Response attribution not verified
#35 — Property Flood Resilience remains inaccessible, deepening inequalities and leaving communities vulnerable.
Recommendation: Flood resilience is not only about individual protection but about sustaining communities, businesses, and housing markets. Property Flood Resilience (PFR) must be mainstreamed as a core part of flood recovery, rather than treated as an optional add-on. Without reform, PFR …
Response attribution not verified
#23 — Prioritise funding for flood-risk communities and design framework for fairer, inclusive outcomes.
Recommendation: As the Government prepares to implement the new investment framework from April 2026, it must prioritise funding for communities most at risk from flooding. A simpler system must also be a fairer one, capable of supporting those facing the greatest …
Response attribution not verified
#22 — New flood investment framework risks perpetuating shortcomings without social vulnerability considerations.
Recommendation: We welcome the Government’s consultation on a new investment framework for flood and coastal resilience. The proposed shift to a simpler, more strategic approach is a positive step. However, unless the revised framework explicitly considers social vulnerability and the long-term …
Response attribution not verified
#23 — Consider interconnected challenges in fragile states when deploying ODA financial and human resources holistically.
Recommendation: We urge the Government to consider the nature of interconnected challenges such as nutrition, food systems, education, Water Sanitation and Hygiene, and governance challenges—particularly in relation to fragile and conflict-affected states—as it plans how it will deploy its financial and …
Response attribution not verified
#22 — Government must maintain flexibility within ODA priorities to respond to interconnected development challenges.
Recommendation: The Government’s focusses on global health, and climate and nature are welcome. However, the Government must maintain the flexibility within these priorities to accommodate the interconnectedness of development challenges. It also needs the flexibility to be able to respond to …
Response attribution not verified
#21 — Ensure FCDO retains expertise and provides gender-specific funding to empower marginalised groups.
Recommendation: The FCDO must have the expertise and resources required to empower marginalised groups in decision-making forums, as well as the ability to equip them in their efforts to bring about lasting change in their communities. The FCDO will need to …
Response attribution not verified
#20 — Upholding rights and potential of marginalised groups and women should be UK ODA priorities.
Recommendation: Upholding the rights of marginalised groups, as well as realising the potential of women and girls in both achieving societal resilience and poverty reduction, should be strategic priorities for UK ODA. This must be reflected in the spending allocations. (Conclusion, …
Response attribution not verified
#19 — ODA resourcing decisions must prioritise greatest need in fragile and climate-vulnerable states.
Recommendation: In the coming years, the greatest need will be in fragile and conflict- affected states, and states most vulnerable to climate change. Working in partnership to address these needs mutually benefits the affected countries and the UK. The empowerment and …
Response attribution not verified
#8 —
Recommendation: The UK faces increasingly complex transnational threats. The devastating impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and the rapidly changing climate are two examples of existential challenges, against which the UK economy must become more resilient. (Conclusion, Paragraph 35)
#47 —
Recommendation: We heard how new towns could benefit from new technologies that will make the electricity supply more resilient. 73 Lawrence Slade, Chief Executive of the Energy Networks Association, mentioned the use of batteries at a community level as a way …
#29 —
Recommendation: Urban horticulture and controlled environment agriculture both offer opportunities to improve the UK’s self-sufficiency in fruit and vegetables. While they will not supplant the need for open-field farming, they can play a role in diversifying the UK’s food sources and …
Response attribution not verified
#19 —
Recommendation: We welcome the Government’s goal to increase water storage in the agriculture and horticulture sectors by two-thirds by 2050. We also welcome the Government’s work on reviewing abstraction licenses and its call for evidence on the planning barriers to small …
Response attribution not verified
#18 —
Recommendation: Technologies that pinpoint the use of water offer much promise to irrigate farms in a more efficient in targeted way, and should be used more widely. While the Water Management Grant can be used to pay for water efficiency projects, …
Response attribution not verified
#15 —
Recommendation: Water management on farms is going to become increasingly important as the climate changes. Using water more efficiently and storing it for use during droughts, as well as managing water demand overall, is going to be critical.
Response attribution not verified
#2 —
Recommendation: The UK food system is inseparable from the global food system, and increasing food security is not only a question of improving domestic self-sufficiency. To rely only on domestic production would increase the UK’s vulnerability to extreme weather events in …
Response attribution not verified
#10 —
Recommendation: Farming organisations should be more vocal in communicating the impact of climate change on food production and the role of the energy transition in safeguarding long-term food security. Government should work with the sector to ensure the case for climate …
#8 —
Recommendation: We welcome the government’s decision to introduce stronger minimum energy efficiency standards that private landlords will need to comply with from 2030. This will help to lift households out of fuel poverty and reduce their exposure to the health risks …
Response status not verified
#16 — Evaluate cooling centre effectiveness and publish advice for authorities supporting vulnerable populations during extreme heat.
Recommendation: While there is potential for cooling centres to be an important part of future resilience measures for those most vulnerable to heat impacts, evidence of their effectiveness is not clear cut at present. We recommend that UKHSA evaluate the potential …
Response attribution not verified
#1 — Extreme heat has serious, widespread impacts on UK health, wellbeing, and economic productivity.
Recommendation: We have received compelling evidence that heat is having serious and widespread impacts on health, wellbeing and economic productivity. This is already costing the UK thousands of lives and billions of pounds annually, a situation which is set to get …
Response attribution not verified
#17 — Lead review of humanitarian and climate policies for stronger disability inclusion commitments.
Recommendation: Led by its Gender & Equalities Department and Disability Inclusion Team, the FCDO should lead Government efforts to review all humanitarian response and climate change adaption policies, ensuring that each includes stronger commitments on ensuring that disability inclusion is properly …
Response attribution not verified
#16 — Disability-inclusive programming is insufficiently mandated across FCDO crisis response policy documents.
Recommendation: Despite the increasing importance of climate change adaption, as well as the constant threat of conflict, disability-inclusive programming is not sufficiently mandated across FCDO policy documents, risking persons with disabilities being overlooked at times of crisis. (Paragraph 83) 30 FCDO …
Response attribution not verified
#18 — Integrate Antarctic research and preservation into broader international climate strategies.
Recommendation: To safeguard Antarctica’s environment, it is crucial to integrate Antarctic research and preservation into broader international climate strategies. Rising sea levels, driven by climate change in Antarctica, pose an existential risk to the UK, making it imperative to act now …
Response attribution not verified
#16 — Limiting global warming to 1.5°C critical for preventing Antarctic ice sheet destabilisation.
Recommendation: Evidence presented during the course of this inquiry highlights the critical importance of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. Achieving this target is essential for preventing further destabilisation of Antarctica’s ice sheets and glaciers, which are already experiencing significant changes due …
Response attribution not verified
#5 — Set out measures to increase data for climate adaptation and displacement prevention planning.
Recommendation: In its response to this report, the FCDO should set out the measures it is taking to increase the data available to policy teams when planning medium to long-term climate adaptation investments; and whether prevention of climate-induced displacement is one …
Response attribution not verified
#78 —
Recommendation: The lower environmental impact of certain building materials (including low-carbon cement and straw) could help meet the Government’s ambitions for the new towns to be environmentally sustainable and climate resilient. 128 David Hopkins, Chief Executive of Timber UK, argued that …
#45 —
Recommendation: The UK Government should also consider increasing support for (1) the study and protection of the languages of Arctic indigenous peoples, and (2) Arctic social science research to better understand and respond to the impact that climate , development and …
Response attribution not verified
#17 —
Recommendation: A huge amount of water could be saved by more effectively facilitating the transportation of water from wetter to drier parts of the country. The Government, in collaboration with the devolved administrations, should develop a policy mechanism to transport water …
Response attribution not verified
#16 —
Recommendation: The Government must set stronger targets for reducing water demand. We support the Climate Change Committee’s recommended target of no more than 100 litres of water per person per day.
Response attribution not verified
NAO audit recommendations(3)
Government resilience: extreme weather
LGDs, working with the Cabinet Office, should develop a set of resilience standards for infrastructure and give regulators consistent climate resilience roles. Government has already committed to improve standards for resilience by 2030. It should set out a pathway to …
Partially accepted
Government resilience: extreme weather
LGDs, working with HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office, should encourage greater investment in climate adaptation from the private sector. This might involve publicising the benefits the private sector derives from adaptation, expanding the use of UK green gilts or …
Gambling regulation: problem gambling and protecting vulnerable people
The Commission should: a) build on its high-level definition of vulnerability to articulate clearly how it interprets which consumers may be vulnerable under what circumstances, and how its work is intended to address this. To achieve this, it could work …
Accepted
Independent reviews(16)
Pitt Floods Review — Rec 61
The Environment Agency should work with local responders to raise awareness in flood risk areas and identify a range of mechanisms to warn the public, particularly the vulnerable, in response to flooding.
Other
Pitt Floods Review — Rec 31
In flood risk areas, insurance notices should include information on flood risk and the simple steps that can be taken to mitigate the effects.
Other
Pitt Floods Review — Rec 30
The Government should review and update the guidance Insurance for all: A good practice guide for providers of social housing and disseminate it effectively to support the creation of insurance with rent schemes for low income households.
Other
Pitt Floods Review — Rec 29
The Government and the insurance industry should work together to deliver a public education programme setting out the benefits of insurance in the context of flooding.
Other
Pitt Floods Review — Rec 24
The Government should develop a scheme which allows and encourages local communities to invest in flood risk management measures.
Other
Pitt Floods Review — Rec 12
All local authorities should extend eligibility for home improvement grants and loans to include flood resistance and resilience products for properties in high flood-risk areas.
Other
Pitt Floods Review — Rec 1
Given the predicted increase in the range of future extremes of weather, the Government should give priority to both adaptation and mitigation in its programmes to help society cope with climate change.
Other
Stern Review — Rec Ch27-6
The challenge now is to broaden and deepen participation across all the relevant dimensions of action – including co-operation to create carbon prices and markets, to accelerate innovation and deployment of low-carbon technologies, to reverse emissions from land-use change and to help poor countries adapt to the worst impacts of …
Other
Stern Review — Rec Ch27-1
Very strong reductions in carbon emissions are required to reduce the risks of climate change. They are likely to provide benefits well in excess of the costs. Indeed the costs of not acting strongly are likely to be very high.
Other
Stern Review — Rec Policy-5
Adaptation: The poorest countries are most vulnerable to climate change. It is essential that climate change be fully integrated into development policy, and that rich countries honour their pledges to increase support through overseas development assistance. International funding should also support improved regional information on climate change impacts, and research …
Other
Pitt Floods Review — Rec 74
The monitoring of the impact of flooding on the health and wellbeing of people, and actions to mitigate and manage the effects, should form a systematic part of the work of Recovery Coordinating Groups.
Other
Pitt Floods Review — Rec 72
Local response and recovery coordinating groups should ensure that health and wellbeing support is readily available to those affected by flooding based on the advice developed by the Department of Health.
Other
Pitt Floods Review — Rec 70
The Government should establish a programme to support and encourage individuals and communities to be better prepared and more self-reliant during emergencies, allowing the authorities to focus on those areas and people in greatest need.
Other
Stern Review — Rec Ch27-5
Countries should agree a broad set of mutual responsibilities to contribute to the overall goal of reducing the risks of climate change. These responsibilities should take account of costs and the ability to bear them, as well as starting points, prospects for growth and past histories.
Other
Stern Review — Rec Ch27-4
Action must include mitigation, innovation and adaptation, and there are many opportunities to start now, including where there are immediate benefits and where large-scale pilot programmes will generate valuable experience.
Other
Marmot Review — Rec 5
Policy Objective E: Create and develop healthy and sustainable places and communities Priority objectives: 1. Develop common policies to reduce the scale and impact of climate change and health inequalities. 2. Improve community capital and reduce social isolation across the social gradient. Policy recommendations: 1. Prioritise policies and interventions that …
Health & Social Care
LGO / SPSO decisions(16)
21-018-348 — Preston City Council
about the way a bailiff company, acting on behalf of the Council
LGO (Local Government & …
Benefits And Tax
Upheld
Aug 2022
21-017-612 — London Borough of Southwark
Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s handling of his concerns following receipt of a Moving Traffic Penalty Notice. The Enforcement Agent acting on behalf of the Council was at fault for not following guidance when Mr X told it he was vulnerable due to a disability. The Agent was …
LGO (Local Government & …
Transport And Highways
Upheld
Aug 2022
24-009-287 — London Borough of Waltham Forest
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to provide Mr X with home insulation in his flat. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council to warrant an investigation and we cannot achieve the outcome he seeks.
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Oct 2024
PSOW-202401306 — Cardiff Council
Miss B complained about delays in the Council carrying out repairs to a leak in the roof and that this had caused a progression of damp and mould in the property, namely the bedroom. Miss B noted her 2 younger children, both of whom have asthma, also shared this bedroom. …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Local Government
Aug 2024
PSOW-202402323 — Trivallis
Mrs A complained about the action Trivallis had taken in respect of reports of water damage in her home. Trivallis had identified additional moisture in the air at Mrs A’s home. It determined that this was likely being caused by the space required for a hoist into her bathroom, which …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Aug 2024
PSOW-202406149 — Newport City Homes
Miss A complained that Newport City Homes had failed to undertake repairs and address damp and mould issues, which she had first reported in July 2024. Miss A further complained that she had experienced difficulties in contacting the Housing Association. The Ombudsman found that although the Housing Association had undertaken …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Mar 2025
PSOW-202406444 — Pembrokeshire County Council
Mr A complained that Pembrokeshire County Council (“the Council”) had failed to investigate and repair damp and mould issues at his home. There are ongoing issues with damp, particularly in the bedroom, where the carpet is wet and there is mould on the wardrobe. Mr A and his wife were …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Local Government
Mar 2025
PSOW-202407430 — Hafod Housing Association
Ms C complained that over a four-year period, Hafod Housing Association had not taken sufficient action to stop dampness and prevent mould in her home and provided evidence that a drainage channel had not been installed properly. The Ombudsman decided that the Housing Association had taken reasonable action by arranging …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Housing
Mar 2025
PSOW-202407604 — Cardiff Council
Mr B complained that he was unhappy with Cardiff Council’s (“the Council”) actions regarding housing repairs to his mother’s property. Mr B said that the Council had resolved most but not all of his issues. The Ombudsman decided that although the Council had undertaken work to resolve some outstanding issues, …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Local Government
Mar 2025
PSOW-202407433 — Cardiff Council
We investigated a complaint from Mrs A about whether the Council responded appropriately to reports of damp and mould made by her since 2009. The investigation identified a number of shortcomings in the way the Council approached repeated reports of damp and mould, particularly in the bathroom, the cumulative effect …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Local Government
Upheld
Nov 2025
21-010-196 — Staffordshire Moorlands District Council
Summary: Ms X complains the Council passed her debt recovery on to Enforcement Agents (bailiffs) prematurely. She complains the bailiffs were aggressive and rude towards her even though she was vulnerable and suffering with the effects of long Covid. This caused her distress. We find fault with the bailiffs for …
LGO (Local Government & …
Benefits And Tax
Upheld
Mar 2022
20-012-532 — Tendring District Council
Summary: Mr C and Ms D complained the Council did not do enough to support their disabled son with housing. We upheld the complaint, finding the Council at fault for its response to correspondence from their MP in June 2019. We also found more should have been done to consider …
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Upheld
Aug 2022
24-008-990 — Cheshire West & Chester Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of a penalty charge notice. This is because Mr X has used his right to challenge the Council’s escalation of the case and the Council’s bailiffs have provided a suitable remedy for its delay in considering his vulnerability.
LGO (Local Government & …
Transport And Highways
Oct 2024
PSOW-202401983 — Flintshire County Council
Miss Y complained about the way her landlord, Flintshire County Council, had responded to reports of damp and mould in her home and whether it had taken appropriate action to provide alternative accommodation. The investigation found that the Council failed to identify that Miss Y had made numerous repair requests …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Local Government
Oct 2025
PSOW-202404828 — Cardiff Council
Ms C complained about the condition of the property she rented from Cardiff Council. The Ombudsman investigated whether the Council failed to respond to and act upon reports of leaks and extensive damp and mould at the property appropriately and in a timely manner. The investigation also considered whether, after …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Local Government
Oct 2025
20-013-134 — Stratford-on-Avon District Council
Summary: Ms Y complains the Council failed to clearly explain how her Council Tax bill was calculated and did not offer her an affordable special payment arrangement for Council Tax arrears. She complains about the Council’s consideration of her vulnerability when writing to her about a possible Magistrates Summons. She …
LGO (Local Government & …
Benefits And Tax
Not Upheld
Jan 2022