Studies show air conditioning can cut heat-related deaths by 75%. As the UK baked in record May temperatures, climate campaigners have urged the government to urgently install air conditioning in schools, care homes, and places where vulnerable people live.
Heat-Related Deaths and the Need for Action
In 2022, when temperatures spiked above 40°C (104°F), approximately 3,000 people in Britain died from heat-associated causes. Research indicates that air conditioning can reduce such deaths by 75%. The world has warmed by about 1.5°C relative to the preindustrial average, but Europe has warmed faster than any other continent. The UK remains ill-prepared, with the majority of English homes overheating during summer.
The overheating of British homes is likely to become a political issue, with mounting pressure on ministers to act. Many people are taking matters into their own hands; an estimated 4 million homes in the UK now have air conditioning, double the figure from three years ago.
Political Exploitation of Climate Impacts
Sam Alvis, associate director at the Institute for Public Policy Research, warned: “Extreme weather is a growing political problem in the UK. As we’ve seen in Valencia, Los Angeles, and elsewhere, when increasingly severe and frequent climate impacts strike, populists are quick to exploit public anger over a lack of preparation, using it to advance their own agenda and weaken support for climate action more broadly.”
In Valencia, populist politicians from the Vox party seized an opportunity in 2024 after torrential floods killed over 220 people. Rather than addressing the climate crisis, the right-wing party blamed the Spanish government’s inability to care for its citizens. In Los Angeles, after wildfires razed neighbourhoods in 2025, Donald Trump and the Maga movement used the disaster to lambast Governor Gavin Newsom for failing to agree to a 2020 plan to divert water from northern to southern California. Tech billionaire Elon Musk also attacked the fire department, accusing it of being “woke.”
Necessity of Air Conditioning
Even political parties that previously advocated for less energy-hungry methods now accept air conditioning as a necessity. A Green Party spokesperson stated: “Consecutive governments – including the present Labour government – have failed to implement a mass home retrofit programme to keep our homes warm in winter, cool in summer, and cut energy bills. While retrofitting must remain a priority, we will now need air conditioning for vulnerable people in hospitals, care homes, schools, and households. As this will be required only during the hottest, sunniest months, there could be good pairing with solar energy.”
The Role of Solar Power
Air conditioning units consume significant electricity. Recent warnings along the US east coast highlight how hot temperatures cause everyone to switch on AC, straining the grid and leading to brownouts in New York City. However, solar power offers a solution. Sunniest states with high solar penetration, like Texas, have enjoyed greater power stability during heatwaves, along with vastly reduced carbon emissions compared to using gas or fossil fuels.
Alvis added: “Extreme heat is affecting children’s exam performance, forcing NHS surgeries to be cancelled, and making it harder for farmers to grow food. It is no surprise that frustration is growing. Pairing long-term emissions cuts, such as rolling out solar panels on schools, with immediate adaptation measures, like air conditioning in classrooms, will both protect communities and strengthen public confidence in climate action.”
Government Measures and Heat Pumps
The government aims to transition homes from gas heating to heat pumps. Air-to-air heat pumps can also serve as air conditioning in summer, leading policy experts to call for nationwide adoption. The government has responded: Energy Secretary Ed Miliband announced last November that grants for heat pump installation now include those with cooling functions. However, experts argue the UK needs more grid capacity to power these electric appliances.
Some campaigners advocate using energy-hungry AC only in emergencies, alongside community solutions like cool spaces used in New York. Mike Childs, head of science, policy and research at Friends of the Earth, said: “While the use of air conditioning is likely to rise, it is energy-intensive and expensive to run, so should be prioritised for those who need it most. Critically, it must be powered by green energy, not fossil fuels. With the climate getting hotter, adapting properties to cope with extreme temperatures is urgent. Care homes and hospitals particularly need better ventilation and air conditioning, but the government should also invest in networks of cool spaces, such as community centres and churches, where at-risk people can find respite.”
Childs highlighted that British housing stock is poorly insulated. Other methods to keep heat out include installing shutters and retrofitting homes with insulation. He explained: “Britain’s poorly insulated homes are badly prepared for the weather to come. Not only does insulation keep homes warm in winter, it helps them stay cooler in summer.”
