Research from the Metropolitan Police indicates that violence tends to rise sharply when temperatures surpass 18°C.
Economics
Heatwaves have notable economic impacts, particularly affecting labour productivity. High temperatures are especially challenging in physically demanding fields like construction and agriculture, where workers are more susceptible to heat stress and fatigue.
Employees often experience decreased performance due to reduced focus and increased tiredness. In Britain, there are no set legal minimum or maximum working temperatures. However, the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations mandate that employers ensure a “reasonable” working environment.
Schools are similarly impacted; extreme temperatures in classrooms can hinder students’ ability to concentrate and learn, sometimes necessitating school closures. Although schools, like workplaces, do not have a legal maximum temperature, unions recommend that classroom temperatures should not exceed 30°C to 32°C for sustained work and study.
Infrastructure
Heatwaves exert significant pressure on infrastructure. The increased need for cooling systems can strain electricity grids, heightening the risk of power failures, which can worsen health risks by disabling air conditioning and other vital cooling systems.
Urban areas face additional challenges due to the ‘urban heat island effect,’ where densely constructed environments absorb and retain more heat, causing cities to be warmer than rural surroundings. Transportation systems are also vulnerable, with intense heat potentially causing railway tracks to warp and road surfaces to soften, leading to travel disruptions and affecting supply chains.
Strategies
Learning from European countries with more experience in managing heatwaves could be beneficial. It’s advisable to open windows only during the cooler night or early morning hours, keeping them shut during the day to block warm air. Electric fans can help, but above 35°C, they may just circulate hot air and increase dehydration risks. A bowl of ice or a frozen water bottle placed in front of the fan might help.
Employers should consider restructuring the workday to include a midday break similar to a Spanish siesta during peak heat, focusing work hours in the early morning and late evening. Staying hydrated by drinking water regularly, even before thirst kicks in, and avoiding high caffeine and alcohol intake is also recommended.
Misting
Consuming cold food and drinks, taking cool showers, and wearing damp clothing can help manage the heat. In the long term, local councils should be encouraged to reopen public drinking fountains, plant more trees, create green spaces, and allow parkland to return to a more natural state.
Community support groups, which were effective during the COVID-19 pandemic, could be crucial. These groups might establish community ‘cool hubs’ similar to the ‘warm hubs’ from the energy crisis, potentially located in basements, church crypts, public air-conditioned spaces, and other naturally cool areas.
Long-term adaptation strategies could include painting roofs white to reflect solar heat. To guard against potential insect invasions, installing screened doors and windows may become necessary. With the risk of deadly wet-bulb temperatures moving north, we could follow the example of Parisians who, during prolonged heatwaves, set up outdoor misting systems and reduced traffic.
Net-zero
The prospect of a cooler future is dim for the next generation. Even if CO₂ emissions ceased today, the climate would continue to warm as the atmosphere gradually clears excess greenhouse gases, persisting beyond our lifetimes and those of our children.
Reaching critical climate tipping points could cause warming to accelerate rapidly, making it increasingly difficult to manage. At that stage, our choices would be limited to slowing the process and adapting to its effects.
Thus, adaptation should be pursued alongside ongoing efforts to cut emissions and ensure the government meets its net-zero targets.
This Author
Tom Hardy has accumulated over 40 years of experience in education as an editor, writer, and consultant. He has contributed to the Times Educational Supplement and the International Journal of Art and Design Education, and has advised the Department for Education. He is currently associated with Media Revolution.
