{
  "id": 650542,
  "title": "Just 20 of 6,600 Defra staff working on climate adaptation amid drought and wildfires",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/just-20-of-6-600-defra-staff-working-on-climate-adaptation-amid",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-12T09:36:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Guardian Business",
    "slug": "guardian-business",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/aug/12/just-20-of-6600-defra-staff-working-on-climate-adaptation-amid-drought-and-wildfires"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Just 20 out of 6,600 staff at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) are focusing on climate adaptation amid drought and wildfires, according to a freedom of information request. This represents 0.3% of the department's workforce, which is tasked with protecting the environment and maintaining food security. The climate change adaptation committee has warned that England is \"desperately unprepared\" for the impacts of climate change, with peak river flows potentially increasing by 45% and water supply shortfalls surpassing 5 billion liters daily by 2050. The economic cost of failing to adapt could range from 1% to 5% of UK GDP annually, equating to £60bn to £260bn a year. Environmental writer and campaigner Guy Shrubsole highlighted the lack of officials working on climate adaptation at the top of government, urging the new environment secretary, Angela Eagle, to boost staffing and funding. The data comes as Burnham faces criticism from the Wildlife Trusts and leading environmental NGOs for not addressing climate change in his first 100 days in office. They are calling for ecological restoration and a shift to clean energy to tackle the climate emergency, which is causing extreme heat, drought, and wildfires across the UK.",
  "summary": "Exclusive: England ‘desperately unprepared’ for effects of crisis including water shortages and heatwaves UK heatwave live – latest updates Just 20 staff are working on climate adaptation within a key government department tasked with protecting the environment and maintaining food security, a freedom of information request has revealed. The officials make up 0.3% of staff within the Department…",
  "key_points": [
    "Only 20 Defra staff out of 6,600 focus on climate adaptation",
    "Drought and wildfires strain England's environment and food security",
    "Lack of adaptation staff sparks calls for government action"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The tiny proportion of Defra staff focused on climate adaptation underscores concerns that England remains unprepared for climate impacts, with potentially severe economic and environmental consequences.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}