The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has only 20 staff members dedicated to climate adaptation, which is 0.3% of its total workforce.

Just 20 of 6,600 Defra staff working on climate adaptation amid drought and wildfires https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/aug/12/just-20-of-6600-defra-staff-working-on-climate-adaptation-amid-drought-and-wildfires

“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 for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.” https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/aug/12/just-20-of-6600-defra-staff-working-on-climate-adaptation-amid-drought-and-wildfires