This article is part of the Adaptation Policy Explained Series, if you would like to learn more about the publications discussed in this document, you should have a look at our other links:

• NI Climate Adaptation policy in 2026: Introduction to CCRA4-IA and NICCAP3

• What is the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) and Independent Assessment (CCRA-IA)?

• What is the Third Northern Ireland Climate Change Adaptation Programme (NICCAP3)?

 

Publication Links

• Fourth Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA4-IA) – Independent Assessment
  • Technical Report
  • Well-Adapted UK Report
• Third National Climate Change Adaptation Programme
  • NICCAP3
  • NICCAP3 Annex: Adaptation Delivery Plan
• Climate NI Resources:
  • Climate NI Adaptation Policy Explained Slide Deck
  • CCRA4-IA: Compiled Climate Risks and Urgency Scores for Northern Ireland 
  • Compiled-Climate-Risks-and-Urgency-Scores-for-Northern-Ireland.pdf

 

While the NICCAP3 and CCRA4-IA publications are primarily directed towards policymakers and senior decision-makers, the information contained in both can be useful to people who work in research, want to embed adaptation practice in their organisations, or even individuals who want to be better informed about the future for Northern Ireland.

Below are some signposting questions and example use cases for the cross-cutting chapters of NICCAP3, the Technical Report and WAUK.

(Please note that this is by no means an exhaustive list. This section can be used as a shortcut to find important chapters for work or research, though sector-specific information is more readily found in their respective chapters.)

 

How can I…?

• … better understand the science behind climate change?
  • Technical Report: Chapter 2 – State of the Climate
  • WAUK: Chapter 1.1 – The Changing Climate

 

• … learn about the legal basis for adaptation in Northern Ireland?
  • NICCAP3: Executive Summary – Adaptation is a Legislative Requirement
  • NICCAP3: Chapter 2 – Legal Background

 

• … get a better understanding of what Climate Risk means?
  • WAUK: Chapter 1 – UK Climate Change Risk
  • Technical Report: Chapter 1 – Methods

 

• … learn about best practice in climate change adaptation action?
  • WAUK: Chapter 3: Principles for effective adaptation

 

• … find examples of climate change adaptation action in Northern Ireland?
  • NICCAP3 Case Studies
  • NICCAP3 Annex: Adaptation Delivery Plan.

 

 

Which NICCAP3 chapters are useful for…?

 

• Researchers: to examine Northern Ireland’s current adaptation policies and priorities and assess their effectiveness in addressing climate risks. It can also provide a basis for informing future research on climate adaptation. Useful Parts/Chapters:
  • Chapter 17: Implementation Monitoring
  • Annex 1 – Adaptation Delivery Plan

 

• Practitioners: to align their adaptation plans and projects with national priorities and policy objectives. It provides a framework for implementing practical resilience measures and monitoring progress against government adaptation goals. Useful Parts/Chapters:
  • Executive Summary
  • Chapter 1 – Collaborative Working and Shared Ownership
  • Case Studies
  • Annex – Adaptation Delivery Plan
  • Sector Specific Chapters (see Table 1 below)

 

• Policymakers: to guide the development, coordination, and delivery of adaptation policies across government departments and sectors. It should be used alongside the CCRA4 evidence base to prioritise actions, allocate resources, and track progress towards improving the UK’s resilience to climate change. Useful Parts/Chapters:
  • Executive Summary
  • Chapter 17 – Implementation Monitoring
  • Chapter 18 – Evaluation of NICCAP2
  • Sector-specific chapters (see Table 1 below)

 

• Public: as a way of learning more about climate change adaptation action (in Northern Ireland), to conduct research on behalf of a community interest group, or for more understanding on areas that affect their work or home life. Useful Chapters:
  • Executive Summary
  • Chapter 1: Collaborative Working & Shared Ownership – a vision for a well-adapted and climate resilient Northern Ireland
  • Case Studies
  • Sector Specific Chapters (see Table 1 below)

 

 

Part Number	Key Area/Part	Thematic Area/Chapter
2	Natural Capital	Nature, Working Lands & Seas
3	Food Security	Food Security
4	Infrastructure Services	Water, Energy, Telecoms & ICT, Transport
5	People & The Built Environment	Towns & Cities, Buildings, Health, Community
6	Disruption to Business & Supply Chains	Business, Finance

Table 1: NICCAP3’s sector-specific Key Areas/Parts, as well as the Thematic Areas/Chapters that make up the Parts:

 

Which CCRA4-IA chapters are useful for…?

CCRA4-IA Technical Report

• Policymakers: as the primary evidence base to understand the latest climate risks, opportunities, and projected impacts across sectors. It should inform strategic policy development, investment priorities, and adaptation planning by ensuring decisions are based on robust scientific research and analysis. Useful Chapters:
  • Executive Summary
  • Chapter 1 – Methods
  • Chapter 2 – State of the Climate

 

• Practitioners: to identify climate risks relevant to their sector or region and to inform the design of evidence-based adaptation measures. It provides detailed scientific evidence that can support risk assessments, adaptation planning, and the prioritisation of resilience actions. Useful Chapters:
  • Executive Summary
  • Chapter 2 – State of the Climate
  • Sector-specific chapters (see Table 2 below)

 

• Researchers: as a comprehensive evidence base to support studies on climate risks, impacts, and adaptation across sectors. It can also help identify knowledge gaps and research priorities that will strengthen future climate risk assessments and adaptation strategies. Useful Chapters:
  • Chapter 1 – Methods
  • Sector-specific chapters (see Table 2 below)

 

• Public: as a way to deepen existing knowledge of climate change and climate change adaptation action. This document is quite dense and technical, however certain sections can be useful for greater insight into climate change risk. Useful Chapters:
  • Executive Summary
  • Chapter 2 – State of the Climate
  • Sector-specific chapters (see Table 2 below)

 

 

Chapter Number	Sector	Page
3	Health and Wellbeing	146
4	Built Environment	254
5	Land, Nature and Food	393
6	Infrastructure	543
7	Economy	681

Table 2: The sectoral chapters of the CCRA4-IA:

 

Well Adapted UK Report

• Policymakers: to evaluate how effectively current adaptation policies are being implemented and where significant gaps remain. It provides practical recommendations to strengthen governance, improve resilience, and accelerate action to ensure the UK is better prepared for future climate risks. Useful Chapters:
  • Executive Summary
  • Chapter 2 – The Case for Adaptation
  • Chapter 3 – Principles for Effective Adaptation
  • Sector-specific chapters (see Table 3 below)

 

• Practitioners: to benchmark current adaptation efforts against good practice and identify areas where implementation can be strengthened. Its recommendations can help improve the delivery, monitoring, and evaluation of climate change adaptation actions while encouraging collaboration across organisations and sectors. Useful Chapters:
  • Executive Summary
  • Chapter 2 – The Case for Adaptation
  • Chapter 3 – Principles for Effective Adaptation
  • Sector-specific chapters (see Table 3 below)
  • Annex – Proposed objectives and targets for a well-adapted UK

 

• Researchers: to evaluate the effectiveness of current adaptation policies and practices and to investigate barriers to successful implementation. It also highlights evidence gaps and priority areas where further research can improve adaptation outcomes and inform future policy and practice. Useful Chapters:
  • Annex 1 – Proposed objectives and targets for a well-adapted UK
  • Annex 2 – Summary of supporting research

 

• Public: to better understand how climate change adaptation action is developing in the UK, and to find actions that can be promoted at a community and local government level. Useful Chapters:
  • Executive Summary
  • Chapter 1 – UK Climate Change Risk
  • Chapter 2 – The case for adaptation.
  • Sector-specific chapters (see Table 3 below)

 

Chapter number	Chapter Name	Page
4	Health	129
5	Built Environment and Communities	162
6	Public Services	193
7	Cultural Heritage	216
8	Water and Wastewater	235
9	Energy	267
10	Transport	303
11	Waste	333
12	Digital and Telecoms	352
13	Land	379
14	Sea	408
15	Food Security	426
16	Economy and Finance	448
17	National Security and International Engagement	483

Table 3: The sectoral chapters of the Well-Adapted UK Report: