The UK urgently needs a strategy to address the escalating risk of heatwave-related deaths, as climate change intensifies, according to a cross-party committee of MPs.
The report highlights that over 4,500 people died from heatwaves in 2022, and this figure could reach 10,000 annually by 2050 without intervention.
Heatwaves, described as “silent killers,” increase heart rates and blood pressure, particularly threatening to those over 65 or with existing health conditions.
Additionally, elevated temperatures double the suicide risk and cause poor sleep, leading to an estimated £60 billion annual loss in productivity, as reported by the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC).
In 2022, the UK saw temperatures exceed 40°C for the first time, and 2023 was the hottest year on record globally. The Met Office predicts that such extreme heatwaves could become common every other year by 2050.
The report calls for green spaces, fans, and reflective roofs to prevent heat deaths.The MPs stressed that urgent action is needed to protect people from heat, suggesting measures like increasing green spaces, installing fans, and implementing window shutters and white-painted roofs to reflect sunlight.
With nearly 5 million homes in England experiencing summer overheating, the MPs call for a vast and rapid response, integrating these efforts with energy efficiency upgrades.
The EAC’s report criticizes the government’s recent climate adaptation plan as “very weak” and lacking urgency. It recommends nature-based solutions, such as parks and green roofs, and urges updates to building regulations to encourage ceiling fans.
The MPs also support using reflective roof paint and external shutters to reduce indoor temperatures and suggest improving air conditioner energy efficiency.
They propose a national retrofit program to enhance home insulation and energy efficiency, supported by long-term funding.
The government has yet to address proposals for low-cost retrofit finance and should consider naming heatwaves and including humidity levels in forecasts to boost public awareness.
Critics, including Bob Ward from the Grantham Institute, argue that the government’s failure to implement a comprehensive retrofitting program is a significant oversight, leaving many homes inadequately prepared for extreme temperatures.