Heat summary - State of evidence
This page summarises the state of the evidence of the Health effects of Climate Change (HECC) report with a focus on the impact of heat on the state of the evidence.
Applies to England
CCHS navigation menu:
CCHS homepage
Topic: climate-related hazards
Hazard: all climate-related hazards, heat
Part of: heat summary - full HECC report
Key resources for state of evidence:
- Heat summary - state of evidence
- State of evidence full report (pdf)
Heat summary
Climate change has an impact on the weather that we experience in the UK. It is causing more frequent and severe flooding, heatwaves, cold weather, drought and wildfires, as well as a higher risk of infectious diseases transmitted through mosquitoes and tick bites. This presents a risk to our health when extreme weather events like heatwaves place a strain on healthcare services, infrastructure and energy.
The impacts of climate change on health are likely to exacerbate health inequalities, impacting disadvantaged and vulnerable communities the most.
Extreme heat will be worse in urban areas because of the urban heat island effect; however the health risks and impacts will differ regionally, due to the variation in population vulnerabilities.
The projected health risks associated with climate change may change depending on future climate change projections.
At lower levels of warming there is evidence that interventions which adapt to climate change impacts (adaptations) can improve health outcomes. Nature-based solutions harness natural processes for many benefits including shade, reduced energy costs, air and water quality improvement and mental wellbeing. However, they may also create habitats which are suitable for disease-carrying vectors such as mosquitoes. Climate change adaptations therefore need to be embedded into planning across all sectors, to consider relevant risks and potential interventions alongside monitoring for intended and unintended consequences.