The United Kingdom is currently in the midst of its third heatwave of the year, with high temperatures expected to persist for much of the coming week. This follows a period of intense heat across Europe, which saw Western Europe record its hottest June ever. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has expanded amber heat health alerts to cover all regions of England, excluding the North East, indicating that significant impacts are anticipated across health and social care services.
Temperatures surpassed 35C in Surrey recently, although this fell short of the provisional high of 37.7C recorded in Norfolk in late June. The Met Office has indicated that the longevity of this heatwave could rival that of 1976, an event linked to 250 fatalities. The broader European context is equally concerning, with countries like Belgium reporting 1,747 excess deaths in June, and Germany recording 5,120 heat-related deaths this summer. Academic estimates suggest the continent-wide death toll could exceed 20,000.
Professor Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London, emphasised the role of climate change, driven by fossil fuel emissions, in exacerbating these events. She stated that current heatwaves are only possible due to the 1.4C of climate change experienced to date. Professor Otto cautioned against using the term 'new normal', explaining that the climate continues to warm, leading to an ongoing shift in what is considered normal and a likelihood of even hotter heatwaves in the future.
The impact on public services in the UK is already evident. NHS England has warned of a 'summer onslaught', with average A&E attendances surpassing 80,000 daily for the first time in June. Professor Frankie Swords, NHS national medical director, highlighted that summer is now placing comparable pressure on the NHS to winter. The South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust reported a 118% increase in emergency calls during the June heatwave where the public was directed to retrieve a defibrillator for suspected cardiac arrest.
Across the Channel, France is also grappling with the aftermath and future implications of extreme heat. Its high council on climate, an independent body evaluating government climate action, recently released its eighth annual report. The report found France 'not ready' for the dangerous consequences of climate breakdown and deemed current policies 'insufficient'. It urged policymakers to enhance housing stock, integrate shaded green spaces into urban planning, and implement cooling solutions in public buildings like hospitals, care homes, and schools. The council also called for a consolidated plan to phase out fossil fuels, arguing that the cost of inaction far outweighs the cost of transition.