UK Told to Prepare for 2C Warming, Air Conditioning in Care Homes and Schools

UK Told to Prepare for 2C Warming, Air Conditioning in Care Homes and Schools

The UK must prepare for a future of more extreme heat, with temperatures set to rise 2C by 2050, according to a major report from the government's climate advisers. The Climate Change Committee (CCC) warned that current adaptation plans are not fit for purpose and that the country was built for a climate that no longer exists.

The report, published on Wednesday, says that temperatures in the UK are already 1.4C above the historic norm and heading for a 2C rise in the next two decades. Heatwaves could reach 45C and last for more than a week, exceeding the previous record of 40C set in 2022. The CCC also warns of more frequent droughts and severe flooding.

The CCC recommends that air conditioning should be installed in all care homes and hospitals within the next 10 years, and in all schools within 25 years. It also advises setting a maximum working temperature for both indoor and outdoor work. The report notes that current air conditioning systems are energy-intensive, accounting for about 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Julia King, chair of the CCC's adaptation subcommittee, said extreme heat is the most immediate risk to life. "Extreme heat is certainly the most deadly of the climate impacts on the UK, so we need to see cooling rolled out at scale," she said. "Sometimes this will mean shading, but sometimes it will mean air conditioning. And either way, we've got to get serious about protecting our most vulnerable people in hospitals, in care homes, and in schools."

In 2022, when temperatures exceeded 40C, there were about 3,000 excess deaths. The report says such periods of extreme heat are likely to become "the new normal". It suggests that rather than installing cooling everywhere, people could choose to have one cool room for use during heatwaves.

Wider Impacts and Inequality

The report warns that almost every aspect of UK infrastructure will be affected, including transport, communication, housing, schools, hospitals, and care homes. It also highlights that a hotter Britain will be a more unequal one, with extreme weather affecting those on lower incomes more severely.

Pregnant women are identified as among the most vulnerable to high temperatures. A Wellcome study cited in the report found that without means to cool homes, women could face higher risks of pre-term birth, stillbirth, congenital anomalies, and obstetric complications.

Education is also at risk. The CCC quotes a study showing students are more likely to fail an examination taken at 32C than at 22C. With nine out of ten UK homes at risk of overheating, the report says pupils may struggle to sleep during "tropical nights" when temperatures do not fall below 20C. The CCC advises air conditioning may be the only answer for schools, but overstretched budgets could mean uneven rollout.

The report estimates the cost of protecting people and infrastructure at £11bn a year, though the figure is presented as an estimate of necessary investment. It calls for strong preventive action to address the growing risks.