Climate Change Fueling More Frequent And Intense Heatwaves In The UK, Experts Warn

The UK is grappling with a growing threat from extreme heat as human-caused climate change dramatically increases the frequency and severity of heatwaves, experts have warned. June this year witnessed widespread and intense heat across the country, prompting the Met Office to issue a yellow heat-health alert, later upgraded to an amber alert for all of England.

Temperatures soared above 32°C in parts of southeast England, well past the regional heatwave threshold of 28°C sustained for three consecutive days. This level of heat, once considered rare, is now becoming alarmingly common.

According to a rapid analysis by World Weather Attribution (WWA), climate change has made such hot June days about 100 times more likely. Before industrial-era fossil fuel emissions warmed the planet, a June day reaching 32°C in the region would have occurred only once every 2,500 years. Now, such events are expected roughly once every 25 years.

Similarly, heatwaves with three consecutive days above 28°C are now ten times more likely, expected every five years compared to once every 50 years in a pre-industrial climate.

Mounting Health and Economic Risks

Scientists have raised alarm over the public health consequences. Vulnerable groups such as older adults living alone, people with pre-existing health conditions, and outdoor workers face the greatest risk. Past yellow alerts have been associated with sharp increases in heat-related deaths, with many fatalities occurring indoors and in isolation.

Dr. Ben Clarke, researcher at Imperial College London’s Centre for Environmental Policy, cautioned: “This heatwave is another reminder that our planet has already heated to a dangerous level. We’re at 1.3°C today, but heading for around 3°C this century. That means more heat deaths, more pressure on the NHS, tougher working conditions, and poorer air quality.”

While new housing regulations require heat-resilient construction, millions of existing homes across the UK remain vulnerable to overheating. Poorer urban communities, often with dense housing and limited green space, are disproportionately affected.

Policy Gaps and Inequality

Experts argue that the UK’s current policies to manage extreme heat are fragmented and insufficient to match the escalating threat. The climate emergency is not only an environmental issue but also a social justice crisis, they warn.

Dr. Friederike Otto, Associate Professor at Imperial College London and co-author of the study, stated: “It is totally insane we have political leaders in the UK trying to drag us back to the past with calls for more fossil fuels. The climate will continue to drive increasingly dangerous heat waves, fires, and floods in the UK until emissions are reduced to net zero globally.”

Maja Vahlberg, Technical Advisor at the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, added: “Extreme heat may not offer the striking visuals of a flood or a fire, but we know it can be deadly. Preparing for heat now is vital, as the UK will experience extreme heat more frequently in the future.”

Rising Wildfire Risk

The danger doesn’t stop at heatstroke and health emergencies. The UK is also seeing an increased risk of wildfires. Theodore Keeping, a wildfire researcher at the Leverhulme Centre for Wildfires, warned that hotter temperatures and a dry spring have made vegetation more flammable, creating tinderbox conditions in many areas.

“People enjoying the weather should be cautious—avoid disposable barbecues, dispose of cigarette butts safely, and report any signs of fire immediately,” Keeping urged.

A Call to Action

As temperatures continue to climb and extreme heat becomes the new normal, scientists are urging urgent action to reduce fossil fuel use, invest in cooling infrastructure, and protect vulnerable populations. Without adaptation and mitigation, they warn, the UK will face growing health, economic, and environmental costs in the years ahead.

The writer of this article is Dr. Seema Javed, an environmentalist & a communications professional in the field of climate and energy