UK Advisers Recommend Maximum Workplace Temperature Rules

The Climate Change Committee said the UK should introduce maximum temperature rules for workplaces to protect workers as heatwaves intensify. The committee also recommended that rolling out air conditioning and other cooling technologies in schools and hospitals become one of the government's highest priorities.

The panel warned that increasingly extreme heatwaves, droughts and floods are threatening aspects of British life, from sports matches to music festivals. Last year was the UK's warmest year on record, following one of the wettest winters on record in 2023-24 that triggered widespread flooding.

By the middle of the century, peak river flows in some catchments could be up to 45% higher during periods of very heavy rain, the committee said.

Adapting to a changing climate would cost roughly £11bn per year, the committee estimated, split between the public and private sectors. The committee said the upfront investment would save the UK money in the long run, potentially tens of billions of pounds per year.

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said the government is acting to protect people and places from the impacts of climate change and will carefully consider the committee's recommendations.