The UK is once again sweltering under an intense heatwave, with soaring temperatures and high humidity disrupting daily life across the country.
The prolonged spell of extreme weather has placed pressure on public health, transport, workplaces and essential services.
Experts estimate that more than 2,700 people may have died from heat-related causes in England and Wales during the exceptionally hot weather in May and June, with most deaths linked to the record-breaking June heatwave, when temperatures reached 37.7°C. Scientists say the heatwaves were driven by a persistent "heat dome", intensified by human-induced climate change, while warm nights offered little relief.
Many UK homes are also ill-equipped to cope with prolonged heat, leaving people exposed to dangerous indoor temperatures.
Professor Ronita Bardhan highlighted that the impact of a heatwave depends not only on rising temperatures but also on the thermal performance and ventilation of homes, workplaces and other buildings. She said housing design plays a crucial role in determining heat risk, particularly for vulnerable groups, and stressed that better passive design can improve resilience to heat as well as other climate-related challenges such as poor air quality and flooding.
Extreme heat places significant strain on the body, increasing the risk of dehydration, heart attacks, strokes and heat exhaustion, especially among older people, young children and those with underlying health conditions.
Often described as a "silent killer", heat-related illness can affect anyone, including otherwise healthy people, because its early symptoms are easily overlooked.
Heatwaves are one of the clearest signs of the wider climate crisis, underlining the need for long-term climate resilience and sustainable action.
Dr Reshma Rao said climate change is no longer a distant threat but is already affecting everyday life through extreme weather, rising living costs and growing health risks. Addressing these challenges also requires tackling other environmental issues, including plastic pollution.
Journalist and author, Saabira Chaudhuri noted that public attention often focuses on visible plastic waste such as bags and straws, while larger sources like fishing gear, tyre microplastics and healthcare waste receive far less attention. She added that many alternatives, including paper, glass and some biodegradable plastics, also have significant environmental impacts, highlighting the need for more comprehensive and sustainable solutions.
"Global warming is making the Earth a much hotter place"
Dr Akshay Deoras,Senior Research Scientist at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science and the Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading, said the latest heatwave has been particularly challenging, marking the third to affect Reading since May. He said the prolonged hot weather has caused exhaustion, poor sleep, headaches and reduced concentration, affecting both his daily life and work.
Linking the recent conditions to climate change, Dr Deoras said, “Global warming is making the Earth a much hotter place, and the UK and Europe are increasingly feeling its effects. When favourable atmospheric conditions for a heatwave develop, such as a persistent area of high pressure, the warmer background climate makes it much easier for severe heatwaves to develop. These heatwaves can either be humid, as we experienced in June, or prolonged and persistent, as we are seeing now. Overall, climate change is making heatwaves both more likely and more intense.”
He also called for greater heat resilience, saying the UK must treat extreme heat as a public health priority. He said, “New homes should be designed to remain cool during summer through better insulation, improved ventilation, external shading and passive cooling measures, while existing buildings should be retrofitted wherever possible. Urban planning should prioritise more trees, green spaces and shaded public areas to reduce the urban heat island effect. Public health systems also need to adapt. This includes better heat warning systems, greater support for vulnerable groups such as older people and those with medical conditions, and clearer public guidance on staying safe during prolonged periods of hot weather. Heat resilience should become a central part of how the UK prepares for a changing climate.”
"Most UK homes were built to retain heat, not release it"
Dr Komal Raj Aryal, Lecturer in Crisis and Disaster Management at Aston University, said the recent heatwaves have affected public health, transport and daily life across the West Midlands and London. He said older people, young families, low-income households and frontline workers have been among the hardest hit, with many struggling in homes that retain heat. He added that heatwaves are no longer just weather events but pose growing risks to health, infrastructure and community wellbeing.
Highlighting the UK's preparedness for extreme heat, Dr Aryal said, “The UK remains insufficiently prepared for increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves. Most homes, workplaces and public buildings were designed to retain heat during winter rather than dissipate it during summer. Many social housing properties, flats and privately rented homes lack adequate ventilation, external shading and passive cooling measures. Public spaces often provide limited shade, drinking water facilities and cooling refuges, while many workplaces still struggle to maintain safe indoor temperatures. Although the UK has made considerable progress in flood resilience, adaptation to extreme heat has not advanced at the same pace despite growing evidence that heat-related illness and mortality are becoming major public health concerns. Greater investment is needed in heat-resilient infrastructure, urban planning and public awareness to ensure communities can cope with a warming climate.”
Similarly, Professor Rajat Gupta,Director of the Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD) at Oxford Brookes University, who has been studying how buildings perform during extreme heat, said many homes and care facilities remain dangerously hot well into the night because they were designed to retain warmth rather than cope with rising temperatures. He said, “Our research over the past two decades has consistently shown that overheating is already a significant issue in homes, care settings and other residential buildings, and climate change is making the problem worse. The biggest gaps include limited natural ventilation, inadequate external shading, extensive glazing, increasing insulation without sufficient consideration of summer performance, and a lack of awareness about overheating risks. There is also no routine assessment of overheating comparable to energy efficiency assessments. We need to move from reacting to individual heatwaves towards designing and retrofitting buildings that remain safe, comfortable and healthy throughout the year.”
Calling for long-term action, he added, “We need a fundamental shift towards designing buildings and communities that are resilient to future climates. Overheating should become a routine consideration in building regulations, planning policy and retrofit programmes. New homes, care facilities, hospitals and schools should be designed using passive cooling measures such as external shading, natural ventilation, appropriate glazing, green infrastructure and climate-responsive design, rather than relying on energy-intensive air conditioning. Existing buildings should be assessed for overheating risk whenever energy efficiency improvements are undertaken, ensuring that measures to reduce winter heat loss do not unintentionally increase summer overheating. Local authorities also need comprehensive heat resilience plans that identify vulnerable residents and provide practical support during extreme heat events.”
"Older adults and children face the greatest heat risks"
Professor Azeem Majeed, Head of the Department of Primary Care & Public Health at Imperial College London and an NHS GP, said he has adapted his routine during the heatwave by staying hydrated and avoiding peak temperatures. He said hot weather is increasing cases of dehydration and heat exhaustion, while many UK homes and NHS buildings are not designed to stay cool, highlighting the need for better heat resilience.
Explaining the health risks of hot and humid weather, Professor Majeed said, “High temperatures become even more hazardous when combined with high humidity because humidity reduces the body's ability to cool itself through sweating. This increases the risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion and, in severe cases, heatstroke, which is a medical emergency. Older adults, young children, pregnant women and people with long-term medical conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes or kidney disease are particularly vulnerable. Some commonly prescribed medicines, including diuretics and certain blood pressure medications, can also increase susceptibility to dehydration. Heat can worsen existing medical conditions and increase hospital admissions, making it important for people at higher risk to take extra precautions during periods of hot weather.”
Offering practical advice, he added, “The key advice is to stay hydrated by drinking water regularly, even before you feel thirsty, and to avoid excessive alcohol, which can contribute to dehydration. Try to keep your home as cool as possible by closing curtains or blinds during the day and opening windows when it is cooler outside, particularly overnight. Avoid strenuous physical activity during the hottest hours of the day, wear loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing, and use sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat if you are outdoors. Check regularly on older relatives, neighbours and anyone with long-term medical conditions who may need extra support. People should also be aware of the early symptoms of heat-related illness, such as dizziness, headache, excessive thirst, nausea and confusion, and seek prompt medical attention if symptoms become severe or if someone develops signs of heatstroke.”
Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time, making meaningful conversations and collective action more important than ever. Against this backdrop, Asian Voice, in association with the Royal Air Force, organised "Be The Change: Climate Change". The event featured an insightful discussion with Saabira Chaudhuri, Professor Ronita Bardhan and Dr Reshma Rao, moderated by Alpesh Patel OBE and hosted by Navendu Mishra MP.
