The UK should introduce legal maximum working temperatures to protect employees from increasingly dangerous heatwaves linked to climate change, according to the government’s independent climate advisers.
Climate Change Committee warned that rising temperatures, more frequent heatwaves, floods and droughts are beginning to threaten everyday life across Britain, including workplaces, schools, hospitals, sporting events and major public gatherings.
The committee said the country is no longer adequately prepared for rapidly changing climate conditions and urged ministers to take stronger action to protect public health, infrastructure and the economy.
Among the most urgent recommendations is the introduction of workplace temperature rules similar to those already used in parts of Europe, alongside large-scale investment in cooling systems for hospitals, schools and care facilities.
The report comes as Britain experiences some of its hottest years on record, with scientists warning that extreme weather linked to climate change is becoming more severe and more common.
Climate Advisers Warn UK Is Unprepared for Extreme Heat
The Climate Change Committee said the UK was largely designed for weather conditions that no longer exist.
The advisory body warned that the country’s infrastructure, housing, public services and workplaces remain highly vulnerable to rising temperatures.
Julia King, chair of the committee’s Adaptation Committee, criticised what she described as years of inadequate government action on climate adaptation.
She warned that Britain’s traditional way of life is increasingly under pressure from extreme weather conditions.
“We need to recognise that there are aspects of our British way of life which are now really under threat from climate,” she said.
Brown argued that governments have failed to prioritise preparing the country for climate impacts despite growing scientific evidence and repeated warnings from experts.
She described the performance of successive administrations as “woeful” in dealing with both current and future climate threats.
Calls for Legal Maximum Working Temperatures
The committee stopped short of recommending a specific legal maximum temperature for UK workplaces but pointed to examples already operating elsewhere in Europe.
In Spain, indoor workplaces are generally limited to 27C for sedentary work and 25C for light physical activity.
Climate advisers believe similar rules in Britain could encourage employers to improve cooling systems and workplace safety standards.
The committee warned that extreme heat presents serious risks to workers’ health, concentration and productivity.
Brown said rising temperatures increase the likelihood of workplace accidents, fatigue and mistakes.
“It’s a very sensible thing to do because we know productivity drops very significantly when the weather gets very hot and we know that people become more prone to making mistakes and to having accidents,” she said.
Trade unions and workplace safety groups have previously argued that Britain’s current health and safety regulations are outdated because they do not include a legal upper temperature limit for workplaces.
Existing UK law only provides minimum temperature guidance for indoor environments, leaving employers with broad discretion during extreme heat.
Schools and Hospitals Face Growing Heat Risks
The Climate Change Committee also identified schools and hospitals as key priorities for climate adaptation.
It recommended accelerated investment in air conditioning, heat pumps and other cooling technologies across public buildings.
Hospitals are viewed as particularly vulnerable because rising temperatures place additional pressure on already strained healthcare systems.
During recent heatwaves, several NHS facilities struggled with overheating wards, equipment failures and growing patient demand linked to heat-related illness.
The committee warned that more than 90% of existing homes in the UK could face overheating risks by the middle of the century if global warming continues.
Schools are also increasingly affected by extreme heat during exam periods and summer terms.
Brown repeated earlier calls to reform the school calendar so children are not required to sit major examinations during the hottest part of the year.
Education leaders have previously raised concerns about students struggling to concentrate during severe heatwaves in poorly ventilated classrooms.
Flooding and Drought Threats Also Increasing
While extreme heat was identified as the greatest climate-related health threat facing Britain, the report also highlighted worsening flood and drought risks.
The committee said the UK is expected to experience wetter winters and drier summers as climate change accelerates.
By the middle of the century, some river systems could experience peak flows up to 45% higher during periods of intense rainfall, increasing flood risks for communities and infrastructure.
At the same time, England could face water shortages exceeding five billion litres per day without stronger action to improve water supply resilience.
Last year was officially recorded as the warmest year in UK history, following one of the wettest winters on record during 2023-24.
Drought conditions and low reservoir levels affected large parts of the country, while severe flooding caused widespread disruption to transport networks, businesses and homes.
Experts say these increasingly volatile weather patterns are becoming one of the clearest signs of climate change in Britain.
Economic Costs of Climate Adaptation
The Climate Change Committee estimated that preparing the UK for a warmer climate could cost around £11 billion annually across both the public and private sectors.
However, the committee argued that failing to invest now would ultimately cost the country far more through infrastructure damage, lost productivity, health emergencies and economic disruption.
Brown said the long-term benefits of climate adaptation would likely save tens of billions of pounds each year.
The committee acknowledged that its cost estimates could still underestimate the scale of future spending required.
Businesses are already facing growing financial pressure from extreme weather events, including supply chain disruptions, heat-related productivity losses and rising insurance costs.
The agriculture sector has also experienced increased pressure from droughts, flooding and changing growing conditions in recent years.
Government Says It Will Consider Recommendations
Emma Reynolds said the government would carefully review the committee’s recommendations.
She stated that ministers were already investing in flood defences and climate resilience measures.
“We are acting to protect people and places from the impacts of climate change that are already being felt across the UK – from flooding to extreme heat and drought,” Reynolds said.
The government has faced growing pressure from environmental groups and scientists to accelerate climate adaptation policies alongside efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
While Britain has committed to reaching net-zero emissions targets, critics argue adaptation measures have not received the same level of political urgency.
The Climate Change Committee stressed that reducing emissions remains essential but warned that some climate impacts are now unavoidable because global temperatures have already risen by approximately 1.4C since pre-industrial times.
Global efforts to keep warming below 2C remain off track, increasing concerns over the frequency and severity of future heatwaves.
Extreme Heat Becoming a Major UK Policy Issue
The report signals a major shift in how Britain views climate-related risks.
For decades, the UK was generally considered less vulnerable to extreme heat than many other countries.
However, scientists now warn that Britain’s infrastructure, housing and public services are poorly suited to prolonged periods of high temperatures.
Recent summers have already brought record-breaking heatwaves, travel disruption, wildfires and growing health emergencies across England and Wales.
Experts believe maximum workplace temperature rules may become increasingly difficult for governments to avoid as climate conditions continue to worsen.
The debate is also likely to intensify pressure on employers to improve working conditions, ventilation systems and climate resilience planning across multiple sectors of the UK economy.