The Met Ofice has confirmed that human induced climate change has driven 2022 as the UK’s hottest year on record, with an average temperature of over 10°C recorded for the first time.

2022 will be the warmest year on record for the UK, according to provisional figures from the UK Met Office – and the national weather forecaster is warning that 2023 will be one of the Earth’s hottest years on record.

Scottish Water has seen the biggest spike in demand on its water network in more than a decade as its response teams battled against a surge in burst pipes caused by sub-zero temperatures and a rapid thaw over the holiday period.

Environment Agency Chief Executive Sir James Bevan is calling for Natural Flood Management to be a core part of the nation’s defence against flooding and climate change.

 The Environment Agency’s project to restore flood protection from the River Derwent in Matlock, Derbyshire and better protect 50 homes and businesses from flooding will reach its halfway stage this Christmas.

Latest Met Office statistics suggest that the UK would need a December of near-record cold weather to avoid 2022 being the warmest year on record for the UK.

Communities are being urged to prepare for flooding this winter with the Environment Agency warning of “ignoring the danger at your own peril”.

Former Ofwat Chief Executive Cathryn Ross has raised the question of whether the Price Review process - the regulatory framework of five-year price reviews for the water sector - is still fit for purpose.

An upcoming event to be held in London in November is set to highlight the need for multi-sector partnerships and collaboration to tackle growing flood risk in the face of the accelerating impacts of climate change.

Thames21 has launched its Five Year Plan (2023-2028) with a call for more collaborative action to get the River Thames and its tributaries ‘climate-ready’ to tackle the impacts of floods and droughts.