Britain must urgently install air conditioning in schools and care homes, climate campaigners say | extreme heat

As the UK records record temperatures in May, climate campaigners say the UK government must urgently start installing air conditioning units in schools, care homes and places where vulnerable people live.

In 2022, when temperatures soared above 40C (104F), around 3,000 people died in the UK from heat-related causes. Studies show that using air conditioning can reduce heat-related deaths by 75%.

The world has warmed by about 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial averages, but Europe has warmed faster than any other continent. And Britain is ill-prepared. Most British homes overheat during the summer.

Overheating in British homes is likely to become a political issue, with pressure mounting on ministers to take action. People are taking matters into their own hands, and almost four million homes in the UK now have air conditioning, double the number three years ago.

Sam Alvis, deputy director of the Institute for Public Policy Research, said: “Extreme weather is a growing political problem in the UK. As we see increasingly severe and frequent climate impacts, as seen in Valencia, Los Angeles and elsewhere, populists are quick to capitalize on public anger over lack of preparedness to advance their own agenda and undermine support for climate action more broadly.”

In Valencia, heavy rains that killed more than 220 people gave Vox populist politicians an opportunity in 2024. Rather than address the climate crisis, the right-wing party criticized the Spanish government for its inability to care for its own people. After wildfires devastated neighborhoods in Los Angeles in 2025, Donald Trump and the MAGA movement used it to criticize Gov. Gavin Newsom for not agreeing to Trump’s 2020 plan to divert water from Northern California to Southern California. Tech billionaire Elon Musk also attacked the fire department, accusing it of being woke.

But now even the political parties that had called for a method that consumes less electricity than air conditioning acknowledges that it is essential.

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A Green Party spokesman said: “Successive governments, including the current Labor government, have failed to implement a large-scale home improvement program to keep our homes warm in winter, cool in summer and reduce energy costs. Retrofitting must remain a priority, but we will now need air conditioning for vulnerable people in hospitals, care homes, schools and homes. This can make a good match with solar energy as it is only needed in the hottest and sunniest months.”

The problem with air conditioning units is that they use a lot of electricity. For example, warnings were recently issued along the East Coast of the United States as hot temperatures prompted everyone to turn on their AC, putting increased strain on the power grid. In the past, this has caused power outages in New York City.

But there is a solution. This is solar power generation. The sunniest states with more solar energy on the grid, like Texas, enjoyed more power reliability during heat waves. This also has the benefit of significantly reducing carbon emissions compared to using gas or other fossil fuels for the electricity used to power air conditioners.

Alvis added: “Extreme heat is affecting children’s test scores, NHS surgeries are being canceled and it is becoming more difficult for farmers to grow food. It is not surprising that frustration is growing. Combining long-term emissions cuts, such as installing solar panels in schools, with immediate adaptation measures, such as air conditioning in classrooms, can protect communities and strengthen public trust in climate action.”

The government is trying to get residents to use heat pumps rather than gas to heat their homes. Air-cooled heat pumps can be used as air conditioners even in summer, so policy experts are urging their adoption nationwide.

The government listened. Previously subsidies for heat pump installations also did not include cooling features, but Energy Secretary Ed Miliband announced last November that these would now be supported. But experts argue the UK needs more energy on the grid to power these electrical appliances.

Some climate activists argue that energy-guzzling air conditioning should only be used in emergency situations and in conjunction with community solutions, such as cool spaces like those used in New York.

Mike Childs, director of science, policy and research at Friends of the Earth, said: “Air conditioning use is likely to increase, but it is energy-intensive and expensive to run, so it must be prioritized for those who need it most. Crucially, however, air conditioning must be powered by green energy rather than fossil fuels. As the climate grows hotter, the need to retrofit facilities to cope with extreme temperatures is becoming more urgent. Nursing homes and hospitals especially need better ventilation and air conditioning, but governments must also invest. Those at risk “In a network of great spaces like community centers and churches where people can go to relax.”

He pointed out that Britain’s housing stock was not properly insulated. There are other ways to block heat, including installing shutters and retrofitting your home with insulation.

Childs explained: “Poorly insulated homes in the UK are ill-prepared for the weather to come. Insulation not only helps keep homes warm in the winter, but also cool in the summer.”

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