Skip to content
openDemocracy
Subscribe

Government accepts climate crisis will hit transport, utilities, food and homes

Wildfires and air pollution are among the major risks facing the UK – with the most vulnerable at the sharp end

By Anita Mureithi
Government accepts climate crisis will hit transport, utilities, food and homes
Multiple fires broke out across the country in 2022 as the UK experienced a record-breaking heatwave. Temperatures in many places reached 40°c and over | Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Published:
Share

Wildfires, poor air quality, extreme temperatures and heatwaves are some of the most significant threats to the UK, a new government risk assessment has revealed. But experts say the report does nothing to stop vulnerable communities bearing the brunt of climate catastrophe.

This week the Cabinet Office updated its National Risk Register, aimed at helping the UK prepare for significant threats.

According to the analysis, 50% to 70% of the UK population could be affected by a long period of high temperatures, exceeding 40°C in some areas. In the “reasonable worst-case scenario” this could last for over five days.

This article is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International licence. If you have any queries about republishing please contact us. Please check individual images for licensing details.

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0