A woman walks past a sign reading “Please carry water with you in hot weather” as heatwave hits … [+]
More than 4,500 people are thought to have died from heat-related causes in England in 2022 — the most ever recorded in a single year.
The country endured the blistering heat wave that swept across much of Europe last summer, with the U.K. experiencing its hottest day on record in July when the mercury rose to 40.3°C (104.54°F).
In a country with some of the oldest housing in Europe, these extreme temperatures can pose a very real threat to life. Overall, 2022 was the U.K.’s warmest since records began.
New data from the country’s Office for National Statistics show 4,507 people died heat-related deaths in England last year.
This builds on data released earlier this year which estimated 638 excess deaths took place over July 19 and 20 alone.
As the planet warms, heat waves are expected to become more frequent and more severe. And, despite the number of heat-related deaths still often varying significantly from one year to the next, this figure does look to be trending upwards in England.
Since 1988, some 52,000 people have died heat-related deaths, the ONS data shows. And of these, roughly a third have taken place since 2016 alone.
Although the figures don’t take into account population growth, experts warn that increasing levels of deaths in hot weather “is not unexpected” given rising temperatures and “the extreme heatwaves” occuring more frequently.
Professor Antonio Gasparrini of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, who worked on the ONS report, said in a statement that the data was “a stark warning that this will become the norm due to climate change.”
The data show the risk of death began to rise across the country when temperatures hit 22°C (71.6°F) and upwards. The greatest risk was observed in London, when the heat reached 29°C (84.2°F).
“London usually experiences higher summer temperatures than other places,” Gasparrini said, as well as “in addition to the phenomenon of heat island effect in higher densely-populated and urbanised areas.”
Implementing “adequate climate and public health measures” was even more urgent given the clear risk to life, he added.
Experts warn that the U.K. has some of the oldest and least energy efficient housing in Europe, leaving many residents vulnerable in both hot and cold weather — which can also be deadly.
The government previously laid out policies to improve the efficiency of the country’s homes as part of its plan to hit “net zero” greenhouse emissions by 2050.
But lawmakers were accused of watering down some of their commitments last week when Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced an amended set of carbon-cutting plans.
Commitments to phase out the gas boilers that heat the bulk of Britain’s homes, for example have been delayed, and proposed rules to make sure landlords keep rental properties well-insulated have been scrapped.
The government says its new policies are “fairer” and will help people save money. But scientists like Gasparrini are not convinced.
He said: “It is quite telling that this report comes out just days after the UK government has decided to dilute their commitment on net zero and generally on policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”