New cross-sector initiative will bring together more than 50 organisations to strengthen extreme-weather preparedness, improve coordination and ensure communities help shape national
resilience policies.
The UK government is establishing a new Flood and Drought Resilience Taskforce to improve the country’s response to increasingly severe weather, strengthen long-term planning and give communities affected by flooding and water shortages a greater voice in decision-making.
The taskforce, due to hold its inaugural meeting on Wednesday, 14 October, will be led by Floods and Drought Minister Emma Hardy. It will bring together representatives from more than 50 organisations, including the Environment Agency, the Met Office, mayoral authorities, fire and rescue services, farmers, water companies and the insurance industry.
The initiative comes amid growing concerns about the impact of climate change on the UK’s water security and flood risks. The country has experienced a wet winter followed by an exceptionally hot summer, contributing to its third drought in five years. July 2026 was the driest July in almost 200 years, while forecasts point to the prospect of a wetter and more intense winter.
The new body will focus on improving the coordination of flood and drought planning, reviewing emergency preparedness and developing a longer-term strategy to protect communities, businesses and essential infrastructure. It will also draw on the experience of organisations working directly with people affected by extreme weather.
Community experience to shape policy
A central priority will be ensuring that the experiences of residents and businesses affected by flooding and drought inform future government decisions. The taskforce plans to strengthen direct engagement with affected communities and involve a wider range of local organisations in discussions about preparedness and resilience.
Its first meeting will assess the country's readiness for potential flooding during the coming winter, including progress made since last year's preparations. Participants will also examine lessons from the ongoing drought and identify measures that could improve the UK's ability to withstand both water shortages and flooding.
Minister Emma Hardy said the government was pursuing a more coordinated approach to managing water-related risks, recognising that flooding and drought are interconnected challenges.
She said the new taskforce would put communities and businesses at the centre of resilience planning and help ensure the country was better equipped to deal with future extreme-weather events.
The government is supporting the initiative with a major programme of investment in flood protection. At least £10.5 billion has been committed between 2024 and 2036 for flood defences in England, described by ministers as the largest programme of its kind in the country's history. This includes £4.2 billion for existing and new defences intended to protect more people in the years ahead.
During the 2026/27 financial year, £1.4 billion is being allocated to the construction and repair of flood defences. According to the government, every pound invested in flood protection prevents approximately £8 in potential economic damage.
Coordinating drought response and long-term resilience
The new taskforce will complement, rather than replace, the National Drought Group, which remains responsible for coordinating and overseeing the operational response to drought conditions. The two bodies will maintain close links, allowing the National Drought Group's practical experience to contribute to broader planning and resilience policies.
The government has also introduced measures to address the current drought and strengthen water supplies. These include putting pressure on water companies to reduce leaks, providing farmers with an additional £65 million to improve their resilience, and changing planning rules to make it easier to construct reservoirs on agricultural sites.
By combining national coordination, infrastructure investment and stronger community involvement, ministers hope to improve the UK's capacity to manage increasingly unpredictable weather. The taskforce is expected to help identify weaknesses in existing preparations and ensure that lessons from recent floods and droughts translate into more effective protection for people, businesses and the wider economy. Photo by Gordon Hatton, Wikimedia commons.
