June Heatwave Causes Mass Sleep Deprivation in UK
With parts of the UK once again experiencing a heatwave, an opinion poll reveals that the heatwave at the end of June resulted in "mass sleep deprivation," with two-thirds of people struggling to sleep during the hot nights.
Nearly half of respondents reported losing at least three hours of sleep each night. These findings align with scientific research indicating that sleep disturbances during heatwaves are a global phenomenon.
The recent extreme temperatures would have been impossible without the fossil fuel burning driving the climate crisis, and the poll highlights the tangible effects global heating is already having on the population.
Upcoming Heatwave Threatens Lives and Livelihoods
The Met Office announced on Monday that another heatwave is expected this week, posing additional risks. Southern England is forecasted to experience highs of approximately 32°C on Tuesday, rising to 34°C on Thursday, with isolated areas potentially reaching 35°C on Friday and Saturday.
Homes Overheated and Health Impacted
During the June heatwave, 86% of people in the UK reported their homes were too hot, and 25% said they or someone in their household felt physically unwell as a result. Around 20% cancelled plans due to the high temperatures, and a similar proportion had to discard food that spoiled or could not be kept cool.
The heatwave likely caused hundreds or thousands of premature deaths, though statistical analysis to determine exact figures requires time. The UK Health Security Agency previously reported that 2,556 deaths occurred due to summer heatwaves between 2020 and 2024.
Public Support for Home Upgrades and Funding Measures
The YouGov poll, conducted for Greenpeace, found that over half of respondents believe their homes require retrofit upgrades to withstand future heatwaves. However, 78% said they would struggle to afford such improvements. Almost half supported imposing a levy on highly polluting companies to fund these essential upgrades, making it the most favored option. The next most popular choice was reducing public spending in other areas, while only 5% favored raising personal taxes to address the UK's inadequate infrastructure.
Climate Change Committee Warns of Inadequate UK Plans
The government's official adviser, the Climate Change Committee (CCC), has warned for years that the UK’s plans to protect people from rapidly worsening extreme weather are insufficient. In May, the CCC stated that the current system was "built for a climate that no longer exists" and requires urgent upgrades to cope with global heating.
Record Temperatures and Tropical Nights
During the late June heatwave, monthly temperature records were shattered, including a peak of 40.3°C in Coningsby, Lincolnshire. Record-breaking overnight minimum temperatures—known as tropical nights—were recorded at 23.5°C in Wales and 23.2°C in England.
"The poll exposes the brutal reality of dragging our feet on climate action in the UK, such as mass sleep deprivation," said Mel Evans, head of climate at Greenpeace UK. "Heatwaves are now a creeping health, housing and economic emergency that is costing families money they don’t have. And as these extremes become our new normal, the public wants the corporate polluters who made this mess to pay their fair share towards fixing it."
Health and Emergency Services Under Strain
At the peak of the heatwave, Dr Hans Kluge, the World Health Organization’s director for Europe, stated:
"People are struggling to sleep, emergency rooms are filling up and ambulance services are breaking records. But prevention works. Heat-related deaths in Europe in 2023 would have been around 80% higher without the adaptation measures already in place. We need more of them [as] the summers ahead will be harder."
Dr Laurence Wainwright of the University of Oxford explained the impact of heat on sleep:
"When we have ‘tropical nights’ – where temperatures don’t fall below 20°C – a good night’s sleep is all but impossible for most. The implications are significant: a drop in work performance, an increase in accidents, lower school test scores [and] a decline in mental health."
Workplaces Also Affected by Heat
The heatwave impacted businesses as well, with 60% of poll respondents reporting their workplaces were "too hot" and over 25% stating they had been less productive. Nearly 10% reported working in conditions they considered unsafe. The CCC has recommended that the government establish maximum temperature limits for indoor and outdoor working environments.
Poll Methodology
The YouGov poll surveyed 2,135 adults in the UK between 30 June and 1 July 2026. The results were weighted to be representative of all UK adults.
