UK faces need for widespread air conditioning as climate risks escalate

British households may increasingly require air conditioning to cope with rising temperatures, according to a major report from the UK’s official climate advisers, as experts warn that traditional cooling measures such as shading, ventilation and tree planting will not be sufficient under projected global heating scenarios.

The warning comes in a new assessment by the Climate Change Committee (CCC), which outlines how the UK must prepare for significantly hotter and more volatile weather conditions in the coming decades. The report argues that adaptation measures will need to be rapidly expanded as heatwaves, flooding and droughts intensify across the country, The Guardian writes.

Under the CCC’s recommendations, air conditioning should be installed in all care homes and hospitals within 10 years, and in all schools within 25 years. The committee also urged the government to consider introducing a maximum legal temperature for indoor and outdoor working conditions.

The report stresses that the UK should prepare for around 2C of global heating by 2050, warning that global efforts to limit warming to 1.5C under the Paris Agreement appear increasingly unlikely to succeed. It forecasts that heatwaves could exceed 40C in all parts of the country by mid-century, with prolonged hot periods potentially contributing to an additional 10,000 heat-related deaths annually.

“Extreme heat is certainly the most deadly of the climate impacts on the UK, so we need to see cooling rolled out at scale,” said Julia King, chair of the CCC’s adaptation subcommittee. “Sometimes this will mean shading, but sometimes it will mean air conditioning. And either way, we’ve got to get serious about protecting our most vulnerable people in hospitals, in care homes, and in schools.”

The CCC noted that extreme heat events are already having serious consequences. In 2022, when UK temperatures exceeded 40C, there were approximately 3,000 excess deaths. The report warns that such conditions are likely to become more frequent, effectively becoming “the new normal”.

However, the committee also cautioned that air conditioning comes with environmental trade-offs, as cooling systems account for around 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. It suggested that more efficient technologies, including heat pumps, could help reduce emissions, particularly if paired with renewable energy expansion.

Energy experts also highlighted the potential role of solar power in meeting rising cooling demand.

“We are going to have to get used to being a hot country, which is quite a mindset shift for the UK,” said Sam Alvis, head of energy security at the IPPR thinktank. “Air conditioning is actually a great pair for solar from an energy system point of view because it matches supply and demand, and your aircon is only going to be needed above certain temperatures.”

The CCC further warned that climate impacts will extend well beyond heat stress. The report estimates that around 7 million UK properties are currently at risk of flooding, a figure that could rise by 40% by 2050 without stronger protections. River peak flows may increase by up to 45%, while sea levels could rise by 20–45cm, increasing risks for coastal communities.

“Natural flood defences, such as wetlands and ‘rewiggling’ rivers, will not be enough,” the report found, calling for expanded investment in engineered flood barriers.

The committee also projected worsening drought conditions, with summer river flows potentially falling by a third compared with two decades ago. By 2050, the UK could face a daily water shortfall of up to 5bn litres, raising concerns about long-term water security and reservoir capacity.

“Water supplies also require urgent action. ‘We are facing a potential world where in 2050 you could turn the tap on and nothing would come out,’ King said. ‘We need more new reservoirs. We need to be able to move water around the country. We need to address leaks, and we need to address water efficiency.’”

Emma Reynolds, the secretary of state for the environment, said the government was already taking steps to address the risks, noting existing investments in flood defence and sustainable agriculture, but did not announce new funding following the report.

By Sabina Mammadli