Figures announced on 18 June by Defra and the UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCP09) reveal that the UK is currently on an emissions course that could result in a 2.5°C to 4.2°C rise in mean summer temperatures, H&C has learned. It looks like rainfall fares worse, with a staggering 40 per cent decrease in levels of summer rainfall predicted for southern areas, and a 33 per cent increase in winter rainfall predicted for western areas by 2080.

In a bid to challenge climate change, the National Trust is aiming to cut global greenhouse gas emissions in conjunction with better management of emissions from soils through land use and taking action to prepare for the inevitable future changes to the UK climate.

Peter Nixon, Director of Conservation at the National Trust said: "With the changes already anticipated we can expect a radically different living and working environment with, for example, major shortages of fresh water in some areas of the country. This could also lead to the loss of many of our much loved species of wildlife and more flooding and storm surges. We must prepare for these big changes now and at the same time get on with practical actions to reduce our emissions to prevent more severe impacts in the UK and for the rest of the world."

Fiona Reynolds, Director General at the National Trust said: "Our approach is one of continual and wide-scale adaptation whether that involves taking measures to minimise the impact of heavier rainfall or flooding on historic buildings; planning long-term to live with and mitigate the effects of sea level rises and erosion along the coast; or changing planting schemes in our historic gardens and landscapes to cope with hotter, drier summers.

"These new projections also re-emphasise the pressing need to drastically reduce carbon emissions. We are already tackling this in a number of practical ways by implementing low-carbon energy solutions in our historic buildings and managing emissions from carbon embedded in soil on National Trust land.

"Our experience shows there are a tremendous number of practical things everyone can do to help minimise the extent of climate change. Better results will be achieved by working together, sharing information and by quickly acting on what we have already learnt. The new projections provide a compelling case for us all to get on with immediate and practical action."