Wellcome responds to Met Office report warning of rising temperatures in UK

Alan Dangour, Director of Climate and Health at Wellcome, said:

 

“The climate crisis is a health crisis that is affecting us all – especially the most vulnerable in society.  Heat affects our health in many ways, some of which we’re still just beginning to understand – whether through the direct impact of excess heat leading to heat stress and increased risk of death; changing distribution of diseases spread by ticks and mosquitos; and emerging evidence on the impact of extreme heat on mental health issues.

 

“One thing that is certain is that science can help us understand these impacts and provide the solutions that can protect lives.

 

“Forty-degree heat in England was front page news in 2022. Today, the Met Office is warning that temperatures of 45°C and heatwaves that go on for a month could be possible in the UK. Climate change is bringing extreme heat to communities that are simply not prepared.

 

"The summer heat of 2022 saw more than 3,000 heat-related deaths in England alone. We can’t afford to treat this as exceptional. As we enter London Climate Action Week, we have an opportunity to come together to use science to protect lives in the face of ongoing climate change."