The Met Office Hadley Centre Climate Programme (HCCP) returned £33 for every £1 invested, according to a recent value-for-money analysis into the economic benefits of the 2018 to 2021 phase of the programme.
The Met Office Hadley Centre is a world leading climate research centre dedicated to advancing the understanding of climate change and its far-reaching impacts. This latest evaluation estimated that the HCCP has shown an exceptional return on investment with £1.9 billion worth of benefits to the UK economy following a government expenditure of £57.6 million.
As well as highlighting the financial return, the independent analysis also showed that the work of the HCCP has significantly deepened the understanding of climate change at all levels of UK industry and government and bolstered the UK's status as a global leader in climate science. It has also fostered collaboration between universities and research institutions and improved access to climate data.
Director of the Met Office Hadley Centre, Professor Rowan Sutton, said:
“The HCCP has shown an exceptional return on investment, and its rigorous analysis and cutting-edge research have been instrumental in informing UK adaptation and mitigation policies. By driving evidence-based decision-making, the programme has played a crucial role in the drive towards a resilient and sustainable future amidst the challenges of climate change.
“Alongside our world leading science, we are working with stakeholders in government and the private sector to develop and deliver climate services to help them unlock the benefits of using Met Office and Hadley Centre research.”
Key highlights of the 2018-21 HCCP include:
- The HCCP has been instrumental in aligning stakeholder research focus with government needs empowering both government and industries to make well-informed mitigation and adaptation decisions.
- HCCP outputs significantly contributed to and amplified extensive academic research across various disciplines within the UK.
- 320 scientific papers were published from 2018 to 2021. Through media coverage of significant reports, the HCCP indirectly educates the public on the latest climate science.
The vital work of the Climate Programme has continued since 2021. Among the programme’s many achievements, Met Office Hadley Centre scientists have pioneered work in attribution science, looking at the extent climate change is responsible for extreme weather. They have also worked with partners to launch an online tool promoting the co-benefits of climate action, and provided scientifically robust and useful research, tools and guidance to help manage climate-related risks to UK plants.
A work plan has been set out for the Climate Programme through to 2027, with a focus on addressing emerging climate risks and supporting the UK’s net-zero transition.
The analysis was commissioned by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and carried out by London Economics and Frazer Nash Consultancy, contributing to the findings of a wider economic analysis of the Met Office published in September 2024. The latter economic study has concluded that the Met Office will deliver benefits worth £56 billion to the UK economy over the next ten years.
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