Over Six Million in England Face Extreme Heat Risk, Warns Advocacy Group
Friends of the Earth highlights the heightened vulnerability of the elderly and young children in susceptible neighborhoods
An analysis indicates that over six million people in England are at risk from extreme heat due to insufficient climate protections. The advocacy group Friends of the Earth reports that the most vulnerable are the elderly and young children, with 1.7 million children under five and 4.3 million people over 65 residing in heat-prone areas.
Building on previous research conducted by the University of Manchester and Friends of the Earth, the study identified 15,662 heat-vulnerable neighborhoods, with Birmingham having the highest number of such areas. These neighborhoods are characterized by extended periods of high temperatures, averaging 27.5C (81.5F) or above for five days or more, a condition that is increasingly common due to climate change.
Experts suggest that the current estimates are conservative and that the true number of at-risk individuals could rise when considering people of all ages with disabilities and health conditions. Disability rights activist Doug Paulley emphasized the disproportionate impact on disabled individuals, calling for more robust climate adaptation plans to protect their lives and dignity.
In the identified high-risk areas, there are 3.7 million people with high blood pressure, 1.5 million with asthma, and 1.6 million with diabetes, all conditions that are aggravated by extreme heat and can become life-threatening.
Next week, Friends of the Earth, along with two co-claimants including Paulley, will challenge the UK's climate adaptation plans in a high court case, the first of its kind in the UK. The group argues that the existing plans from the previous government fail to adequately protect people from the anticipated impacts of climate change and urges the new Labour government to develop more comprehensive strategies.
Mike Childs, head of science, policy, and research at Friends of the Earth, stated that the new plans must include measures such as implementing insulation programs to keep homes, care homes, schools, and nurseries cool in the summer and warm in the winter, planting street trees to provide shade, and equipping community spaces like libraries with air conditioning for use during heatwaves.
Childs noted, "Global temperature records are being shattered year after year, yet the UK's current climate adaptation plans are grossly inadequate for protecting frontline communities. This shortfall is endangering the lives and health of millions."