The UK's late June heatwave brought temperatures that left people scrambling to stay cool – and sleep. Two-thirds of those polled reported struggling to get a good night's rest, with almost half losing at least three hours of shut-eye each night.
The extreme weather event highlighted the vulnerability of UK housing, with 86% of respondents saying their homes were too hot during the heatwave. A quarter of households said someone within their home felt physically unwell due to the conditions, while a fifth cancelled plans and one in five reported spoiled food that couldn't be kept cool.
The poll, commissioned by Greenpeace and conducted by YouGov, also revealed public opinion on solutions. Over half of those surveyed believe their homes need retrofit upgrades to cope with future heatwaves, but 78% said they'd struggle to afford them. A levy on highly polluting companies was the most popular funding mechanism, supported by nearly half of respondents.
The findings align with warnings from official bodies, including the Climate Change Committee (CCC), which has consistently advised that the UK's strategies for protecting its population from extreme weather are insufficient. The CCC reiterated in May that the UK's infrastructure is 'built for a climate that no longer exists' and requires urgent modifications.
The late June heatwave shattered several temperature records, including 37.7C recorded in Lingwood, Norfolk. The heat led to 'tropical nights', where overnight minimums reached 23.5C in Wales and 23.2C in England – conditions that made sleep nearly impossible for most.
The implications of such sleep disruption are significant, with Dr Laurence Wainwright from the University of Oxford highlighting potential links to reduced work performance, increased accidents, lower academic achievement, and declining mental health.