Nearly a Third of UK Businesses Now Concerned About Climate Change Impact, ONS Figures Show

New data from the Office for National Statistics suggests 32% of UK businesses report some level of concern about how climate change could affect their operations — a rise of five percentage points from March 2026.

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The Figures at a Glance

The Office for National Statistics posted the headline figure on social media, stating that 32% of businesses now report some degree of concern over the impact climate change may have on their operations — up five percentage points from March 2026. The ONS is the UK’s national statistical body, responsible for tracking economic, social and environmental data across British industry.

That figure, it should be noted, has not yet been verified against published ONS bulletins. It should be treated as provisional until official tables are released.

What is clear from earlier ONS data is that concern has moved sharply in both directions over the past few years. In early February 2023, 41% of businesses said they were concerned about climate change impacts — 11% very concerned, 30% somewhat concerned. By late September 2025, that share had fallen to just 25%.

The Gap Between Worry and Action

The more striking finding may not be the concern levels themselves, but what businesses are — or aren’t — doing about it.

Around 71% of businesses had not assessed any climate change-related risks from a list of survey options as of September 2025, according to ONS data. Of those that had looked at specific risks, supply chain disruption was the most commonly assessed, cited by just 7% of businesses.

Barriers to action tell their own story. Competing business priorities, high upfront costs and limited capital were each reported by 11% of businesses as obstacles to addressing environmental issues. Yet 44% said they faced no barriers at all — suggesting that for many firms, the issue simply hasn’t risen to the top of the agenda.

Size Matters

Larger firms are far more likely to have climate change on their radar. In September 2025, 48% of businesses with 250 or more employees reported some level of concern about climate impacts. Among businesses with zero to nine employees — the bulk of UK firms — that figure dropped to just 24%.

The gap is significant. Small businesses often lack the dedicated resource to carry out formal risk assessments or invest in adaptation measures, even when they recognise the issue exists.

Why Kent Businesses Face Particular Exposure

Kent sits at the sharp end of several climate-related risks. Coastal flooding, heatwaves, drought and supply chain disruption along major routes such as the M20 and A2 are all live concerns for local firms. Ports and coastal infrastructure face growing pressure from sea level rise and storm surges.

Agriculture is especially exposed. Fruit growers and arable farms across Kent — the county has long traded on its market garden heritage — may see crop yields, water availability and pest patterns shift in ways that affect both productivity and profitability.

Kent County Council, the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce and the South East Local Enterprise Partnership all offer guidance and, in some cases, funding routes for businesses looking at climate adaptation and resilience planning.

According to ONS survey findings, the businesses most at risk are often those least likely to have formally assessed that risk — a pattern that local support organisations are well placed to help address.

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Key Takeaways

• ONS data suggests 32% of UK businesses now report concern about climate change impacts on their operations, up five percentage points from March 2026 — though this figure remains unverified against published bulletins
• Around 71% of businesses had not assessed any specific climate-related risks as of September 2025, with supply chain disruption the most commonly reviewed risk at just 7%
• Concern levels are sharply higher among large businesses (48%) compared with micro-businesses of fewer than ten employees (24%)

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What This Means for Kent Residents

Kent businesses — above all those in farming, tourism, coastal trade and transport — face some of the most direct exposure to climate-related disruption in England, from coastal flooding and summer droughts to cross-Channel supply chain delays. If you run a business in Kent, now is a practical moment to review your business continuity plan for extreme weather events, check whether your insurance covers flood and storm damage, and consider how your supply chain might be affected by severe disruption on key routes or at ports. The Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce and Kent County Council both offer resources and guidance on climate resilience, and it’s worth contacting them directly to find out what support or funding may be available to your sector.