How vulnerable are UK food cold chains to climate change?

In the UK the ten warmest years since 1884 have all occurred after 2002. Summer temperatures have been increasing with a peak of 40.3°C in 2022. Predictions are that temperatures will regularly exceed 40°C in the future. Currently not all refrigeration plant is able to cope with the high ambient temperatures being experienced. End users currently have to regularly reduce load to cope with the climatic conditions. This will only increase in the future with a greater need for short term and longer-term adaptation strategies.
This paper provides information on how prepared the UK food industry is for climatic changes. Results from the study identified that there is low adaptive maturity to cope with climate change. Generally businesses are unprepared for the maximum temperatures that are likely to occur in the future. Some businesses have already begun applying adaptation strategies, but these have limitations in terms of long term viability.