UK Heatwave Costs Economy £1.15 Billion in Lost Productivity

A heatwave during the week of June 22 cost the United Kingdom economy £1.15 billion and resulted in 24 million lost hours of work. Research led by the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and the Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Climate Change found that record temperatures reached 37.7°C at Lingwood, Strumpshaw Hill on June 26, surpassing the previous June record.

The study, based on a survey of 1,950 adults, found that outdoor and physically demanding sectors, such as construction and agriculture, experienced the highest productivity losses. Health impacts were widespread, with 87% of respondents reporting effects, particularly among women and people under 35.

Researchers concluded that the UK remains insufficiently adapted to the changing climate. The findings highlight how extreme heat widens existing inequalities in the labor force, as the greatest effects are borne by the lowest-paid outdoor workers. The institutes urge the government to improve workplace safety to prevent further economic and health declines.