UK heatwave deaths top 2,700; study links heat to climate change

UK heatwaves in May and June 2024 caused about 2,700 excess deaths in England and Wales, according to a study by Imperial College London, the Met Office and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The study found around 550 deaths between 21-29 May and nearly 2,200 between 18-28 June. Temperatures hit 35.1°C in May and 37.7°C in June, roughly 3-4°C above what they would have been without global warming. Mark McCarthy of the Met Office’s climate attribution team said the events were "extreme heatwaves for the UK, and for all parts of western Europe, and they're particularly exceptional for the timing and how early in the year they occurred." The UK Health Security Agency will publish its official death toll soon, while the Climate Change Committee warned last year that 92% of British homes could be too hot by 2050 and urged workplace temperature limits and air-conditioning in hospitals and schools.

For West African audiences, the findings highlight how climate change is already intensifying heat extremes even in temperate regions, underscoring the urgency of heat-adaptation measures across the continent. As temperatures rise, improving housing insulation, expanding urban green spaces, and establishing early-warning heat alerts can reduce illness and death. Individuals can stay hydrated, avoid outdoor activity during peak heat, and check on vulnerable neighbours.

What should you know or do? Consider how your community prepares for heatwaves—does your locality have heat-action plans, access to cooling centres, or workplace heat-stress guidelines? Advocating for such measures now can save lives as the climate continues to warm.

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/07/13/heatwaves-killed-over-2-700-in-england-in-two-months/