Lost sleep, wasted food, and hot offices: The true impact of heatwaves on Britons

Lost sleep, wasted food, and hot offices: The true impact of heatwaves on Britons Millions struggled to sleep during ‘tropical nights’ where indoor temperatures approached 28C - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments June’s heatwave caused mass sleep deprivation across the UK, piles of food to go rotten, and workers to stew in hot conditions, a new survey has revealed. Nearly two-thirds (65 per cent) of Britons struggled to sleep during the record-breaking weather event, the polling by YouGov and commissioned by Greenpeace found. Just under half of these (48 per cent) lost three or more hours each night. The research comes as the UK grapples with its third heatwave of the year. High temperatures at the end of last month made it England’s hottest June on record, with the highest temperature of 37.7C, set in Lingwood, Norfolk, and beating the previous high of 35.6C set in 1976. The heat saw 60 per cent of workers in uncomfortably hot workplaces, the Greenpeace survey found, and 22 per cent of adults forced to throw away food that spoiled in the heat. Mel Evans, head of climate at Greenpeace UK, said: “This data exposes the brutal reality of dragging our feet on climate action in the UK, such as mass sleep deprivation. “Heatwaves are no longer just a novel inconvenience, they are a creeping health, housing, and economic emergency that is costing families money they don't have.” The eco-campaigning network has called for a levy on high-carbon emitting companies to fund the infrastructure upgrades needed to cope with rising temperatures in the UK. Night-time heat was a major factor in the Met Office declaring June 2026 the hottest on record, with “tropical nights” where temperatures fall no lower than 20C being frequent. This can push indoor temperatures up to 28C, experts say. Dr Laurence Wainwright, of the University of Oxford’s school of geography and the environment, said last month that “a good night’s sleep is all but impossible for most” in these conditions. “The implications of this are significant,” he added. “Less sleep and broken sleep are associated with a drop in work performance and productivity, an increase in accidents, lower school test scores (a 15 per cent drop in a room of students with a temperature of 18C vs 28C), a decline in mental health, worsened cognitive function, and an increase in impulsive behaviours.” And aside from the health implications for workers of commuting and working in high heat, extreme temperatures may also take a toll on productivity. The Greenpeace survey showed that seven per cent of UK adults had to stop work early due to the heat, with four per cent losing working hours or income. The current heatwave is expected to be less severe than last month’s weather event, the Met Office says, but will nonetheless cause uncomfortable conditions for many Britons. Met Office deputy chief forecaster, Steven Keates, said: “Parts of the UK are entering heatwave conditions: the third heatwave in the UK so far this year. However, unlike the May and June heatwaves, we are not expecting this heatwave to be record-breaking. “Temperatures this week are not expected to reach the highs we witnessed last month, though parts of southern England in particular are likely to see several days in the low 30s celsius, and a few places could reach 34 to 35C later this week. “Much of England and Wales will be hot, and the heat will extend to parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland too, though here peak temperatures are more likely to be in the upper 20s celsius. With high UV and high temperatures, people should take the usual precautions with the heat and the sun.” Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments