On 27 January, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) published a value-for-money analysis into the economic benefits of the Met Office Hadley Centre Climate Programme (HCCP) – the report concluded that the 2018-21 phase of the programme had a return on investment of £33 for every £1 invested. 

The independent analysis, carried out by London Economics and Frazer Nash Consultancy, also showed that the work of the HCCP has significantly deepened the understanding of climate change at all levels of UK industry and government and bolstered the UK's status as a global leader in climate science. It has also fostered collaboration between universities and research institutions and improved access to climate data.

The vital work of the Climate Programme has continued since 2021. Among the programme’s many achievements, Met Office Hadley Centre scientists have pioneered work in attribution science, looking at the extent climate change is responsible for extreme weather. They have worked with partners to launch an online tool promoting the co-benefits of climate action, and provided scientifically robust and useful research, tools and guidance to help manage climate-related risks to UK plants. 

A work plan has been set out for the Climate Programme through to 2027, with a focus on addressing emerging climate risks and supporting the UK’s net-zero transition.  

The ultimate goal of this collaboration is to use the optimal blend of physics-based and ML-based modelling for UK weather prediction. Initial results have been encouraging and demonstrates the next step in weather prediction and the UK’s commitment to remain at the cutting-edge of weather forecasting.   

Through collaborations like this, we aim to maintain the UK’s position at the cutting edge of weather prediction, generating the knowledge needed to inform decisions in infrastructure planning and weather sensitive sectors of the economy, through to emergency response.   

On 6 February, the Copernicus climate change service published global temperature data for January 2025, indicating that it was the warmest January on record.  

Professor Adam Scaife, Met Office Head of Monthly to Decadal Prediction, said, “Global temperatures reached a new record last year and this January. We anticipate that global temperatures are likely to be slightly cooler during 2025 but this year is still likely to be one of the three warmest on record.”