UK should set maximum working temperature rules, advisers say

The UK government’s climate advisory body, the Climate Change Committee (CCC), has called for the introduction of maximum temperature regulations for workplaces to protect people amid intensifying heatwaves driven by climate change. The CCC emphasized the urgent need to prioritize the installation of air conditioning and other cooling technologies in public buildings such as schools and hospitals. This recommendation comes as the UK faces increasingly extreme weather events, including record-breaking temperatures, droughts, and floods, which threaten various aspects of British life. The CCC highlighted that the UK’s infrastructure and public services are ill-prepared for the changing climate, noting that the country was built for a climate that no longer exists. Last year marked the warmest year on record in the UK, accompanied by severe drought and low water levels, while the preceding winter saw some of the highest rainfall and widespread flooding. These contrasting extremes underscore the growing challenges posed by climate change, including the risk of peak river flows increasing by up to 45% during heavy rain and significant shortfalls in public water supply during hot, dry summers. Baroness Brown, chair of the CCC’s Adaptation Committee, criticized successive governments for failing to adequately address these threats, describing their response as “woeful.” She stressed the need for urgent action to protect people and preserve the British way of life, which is now under serious threat from climate impacts. The committee also warned that over 90% of existing homes could overheat during future extreme heatwaves, highlighting the health risks posed by rising temperatures. While the CCC reaffirmed the importance of reducing carbon emissions to limit further warming, it acknowledged that some climate change effects are now inevitable. The government has pledged to carefully consider the committee’s advice and is already investing in flood defenses, but the CCC’s report underscores the necessity of comprehensive adaptation measures to safeguard public health and infrastructure against the escalating impacts of climate change.