Extreme Heat: Preparedness

There are currently 19 live wildfires across England and Wales, with a severe incident in the North York moors last year that burned for 40 days over 10 square miles. The cause was a campfire.

We have not done enough to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or adapt to climate change. New high temperatures are being set across the UK, with extreme events becoming more frequent. Alison Taylor suggests that we need short-term relief and long-term strategies for retrofitting buildings to reduce heat impact and emphasise design techniques. She highlights the importance of considering embodied carbon in buildings and proper demolition practices.

Ayoub Khan discussed his experience in an A&E department during a heatwave, highlighting long waiting times and the impact of extreme temperatures on vulnerable patients. He mentioned 2,700 deaths due to heat-related causes including 368 in the west midlands. Khan stressed that hospitals and public buildings are unprepared for such conditions, with over half of NHS trusts reporting overheating incidents in 2022. He called for a national heat resilience programme with effective ventilation and cooling systems.

Artificial intelligence data centres consume between 11 million and 19 million litres of water a day, which raises concerns about the impact on drought risk during periods of extreme heat.

Medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors can affect the body's temperature regulation, but doctors often do not inform patients of this risk. Cat Eccles highlighted the severe impact of recent heatwaves, noting over 2,700 excess deaths in May and June. She stressed the need for urgent adaptation measures including ventilation and cooling systems in schools and workplaces. Teachers found DfE guidance inadequate; teachers and workers struggled with extreme temperatures without air conditioning. She also questioned the decision by supermarkets to choose delivery vehicles without air-conditioning. Eccles called for a law on maximum working temperature, supported by trade unions. Asked if it is unusual for NESO to issue emergency measures, noting that peaks in electricity demand are normal due to daily routines such as coming home from work and using air-conditioning.

We need to talk more about our lack of preparedness for extreme heat, which is having a direct impact on constituents' lives. The frequency and severity of weather events are increasing due to climate change, affecting farmers, public services, and the vulnerable in society. Emphasised the importance of clarifying that discussions are about degrees of warming, specifically noting that an increase to 2°C is significant compared to pre-industrial temperatures which were around 14°C.

The hon. Member highlights infrastructure issues, which my constituents are experiencing in Epsom and Ewell. Commuters to London have faced repeated train cancellations and delays, affecting their livelihoods and businesses.

Jim Shannon highlighted the challenges of extreme heat in rural and coastal communities, particularly in Strangford. He mentioned that around 20% of his constituency's population is aged 65 or older, living in poorly ventilated properties vulnerable to heatwaves. The MP also discussed the impact on agriculture due to intense summer droughts and water demands. Shannon raised concerns about critical infrastructure resilience during extreme weather events, such as electricity grid failures that leave communities without basic utilities. He called for cross-departmental work with devolved Administrations to ensure seamless integration of heat-health alerts into rural healthcare networks. Additionally, he requested specific capital funding to modernise rural electricity grids and support agrifood sector transition.

Farmers face difficulties in securing planning permission for small reservoirs to manage water shortages, affecting food security significantly.

She raises concerns about data centres and their impact on water conservation and energy consumption. The hon. Member agrees with the importance of addressing environmental risks posed by these facilities.

A new school building in Leeds was equipped with a passive cooling system that proved ineffective during heatwaves. The Member argues for reconsidering guidance to prefer air conditioning in schools.

Might the Minister comment briefly on the Government's approach to water? South East Water reported that water usage went up by 15% during recent heatwaves, pushing the network to its limits. He asked what actions are being taken to build resilience in areas like Kent which will be in a water deficit by the end of 2027.

Mr. Glover highlighted the impact of extreme heatwaves on public health, particularly for those with underlying conditions and residents in care homes. He cited estimates suggesting over 2,700 heat-related deaths this year in England and Wales. He discussed prevention, mitigation, and coping measures, emphasizing the need to tackle net zero scepticism, improve building design, and implement a comprehensive UK adaptation strategy.

Mr. Holmes highlighted the need for preparation against extreme heat, noting that last summer was the warmest on record in Britain and led to 1,504 deaths, mostly among elderly people over 75 years old. He emphasized the importance of adapting Government policy to cope with increasing temperatures, focusing on protecting vulnerable individuals, updating guidance for Departmental emergency response plans, improving home resilience, and reconsidering regulations that discourage air-conditioning use.

Climate change is affecting constituents, damaging the economy and costing lives. South Cambridgeshire could see a temperature rise of more than 4°C in summer with days above 30°C increasing six-fold. The Climate Change Committee has concluded that the Government's approach to climate adaptation is not working. The Liberal Democrats call for adequate cooling in NHS hospitals, care homes, and schools within five years. We hosted a solar-powered ice cream van from the constituency of my hon. Friend the Member for Tiverton and Minehead to provide comfort during the heat. Asked if we are discussing degrees of warming, and clarified that we are looking at avoiding warming beyond 1.5°C, with 2°C being a likely scenario, not a minimum target.

Rachael Maskell highlighted the challenges York faces due to extreme heat, noting that over 2,700 deaths have occurred this year from heat alone. She expressed concern about vulnerable groups such as babies, children under four, and elderly people who struggle with temperature regulation. Maskell also pointed out that lower socioeconomic circumstances exacerbate these risks, leading to greater health issues like respiratory distress, cardiovascular problems, and kidney dysfunction. Furthermore, she stressed the need for improved infrastructure in public buildings and hospitals to cope with heatwaves.

The constituency has a disproportionately elderly population, which suffers more during extreme heat due to health inequalities. Rachel Gilmour highlights poor management of the situation by South West Water, including alleged sewage discharge into the River Exe and insufficient water pressure leading to an animal welfare crisis at a slaughter site. She criticises the lack of urgency from the company and questions their prioritisation of shareholder interests over stakeholder needs.

Schools are closing early due to the heat in smaller primary schools, impacting single parents or those with insecure incomes disproportionately. Parents have expressed concern about this issue.