UK Government Advisers Demand Workplace Maximum Temperature Rules Amid Climate Change Warnings

The UK should introduce a maximum temperature for workplaces to safeguard public health as heatwaves intensify due to climate change, according to the government's Climate Change Committee (CCC).

The CCC stated that deploying air conditioning and other cooling technologies in schools and hospitals should be a top government priority. The body cautioned that increasingly extreme heatwaves, droughts, and floods are jeopardising the British "way of life", affecting everything from sporting events to music festivals.

Baroness Brown, chair of the CCC's Adaptation Committee, criticised the "woeful" performance of successive governments in addressing the present and future climate threats facing the UK. She highlighted that "aspects of our British way of life which are now really under threat from climate," adding that a government prepared to prioritise climate adaptation and protect its populace has yet to emerge.

Last year marked the UK's warmest on record, coinciding with widespread drought and low water levels. This followed one of the wettest winters in 2023-24, which caused extensive flooding.

The CCC's strongest concerns relate to extreme heat, which it identifies as the most significant health risk from climate change for the UK. The committee warns that over 90% of existing homes could overheat during more extreme heatwaves. Implementing maximum temperature rules for workplaces, as seen in Spain with limits of 27C for sedentary work, would incentivise businesses to adopt cooling solutions and mitigate productivity losses and accident risks, Baroness Brown suggested.

Adapting to a changing climate is estimated to cost approximately £11 billion annually, shared between the public and private sectors. The committee maintains that this upfront investment would yield long-term savings, potentially tens of billions of pounds per year, outweighing the costs of climate impacts already being observed.

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds acknowledged the CCC's advice, stating the government would "carefully consider" the recommendations to drive further action against climate impacts.