Resilience of cold supply chains to future heat risk (Climate Sense and Dr Tim Fox)

About this document

The Climate Change Committee (CCC) commissioned Climate Sense and Dr Tim Fox to assess the resilience of the UK’s cold supply chains for food and medical products to heat hazards. The work was conducted in two stages. Climate Sense identified key climate vulnerabilities in the UK’s cold chains and potential impacts on businesses and consumers. Dr Tim Fox followed up with suggesting practical adaptation actions.

This report reflects the views of Climate Sense and Dr Tim Fox and does not represent the views of the CCC.

Key messages

• Future climate conditions will expose vulnerabilities in the UK’s cold chains. Existing reactive measures for resilience in times of high heat will not be sufficient.
  
• The primary impact of vulnerabilities in the UK’s cold chains is increased business costs. Consumers are protected by existing outcome-based food and medical standards.
  
• Key vulnerabilities in cold chain systems include a lack of awareness of climate risks and limited technical knowledge or training for higher temperatures. Moreover, the UK equipment stock is not designed to function in ambient temperatures above 32°C and there are insufficient cooling measures at transfer points and the ‘last mile’ of delivery.
  
• Cold chain adaptation can be delivered by businesses, with support from trade bodies and the Government. Key actions include awareness raising, leveraging public procurement, climate-ready research and training, and guidance and best practice.

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