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Tue, 19 May 2026

Tue, 19 May 2026 UK should set maximum working temperature rules, advisers say

Successive governments have failed to prepare the UK for extreme heat, the climate watchdog says.

* The UK government's Climate Change Committee (CCC) recommends introducing a maximum temperature limit for workplaces to protect people from heatwaves.
* The committee warns that extreme heatwaves, droughts, and floods threaten the British "way of life" and recommends prioritizing cooling technologies in schools and hospitals.
* Baroness Brown, chair of the CCC's Adaptation Committee, criticizes successive governments for not taking adequate action to adapt to climate change.
* The UK is vulnerable to winter flooding and summer droughts due to climate change, with potential consequences including: + Peak river flows could be up to 45% higher during periods of heavy rain + Shortfalls in public water supply could reach 5 billion liters per day
* Extreme heat is the greatest health risk from climate change facing the UK, with over 90% of existing homes at risk of overheating.
* The committee suggests introducing maximum temperature rules for workplaces and incentivizing businesses to deploy cooling technologies such as air conditioning and heat pumps.
* Adapting to a changing climate could cost around £11 billion per year, but would save the UK potentially tens of billions of pounds in the long run.