A new Inquiry has been launched into “Heat resilience and sustainable cooling” by the Environmental Audit Committee.
This inquiry is a follow on from the Committee’s 2018 report “Heatwaves: adapting to climate change” which concluded that human-induced climate change is causing warmer summer temperatures with double the likelihood of extreme heat events. Based on that previous evidence base, this new inquiry intends to focus on three areas:
- The relationship between heat and health, and which communities are most affected, to better protect the most vulnerable
- Government policies in relation to current and future need for cooling, alongside the increased risk of extreme heat, and impacts to human health
- What measures could be taken to increase adaptation and resilience to rising temperatures, with particular focus on sustainable low energy nature-based solutions, to mitigate and adapt to increased risk.
The inquiry is currently seeking written evidence followed by an oral evidence session. The Committee written submissions addressing any or all of the issues raised in the Terms of Reference, are to be submitted by 17:00 Thursday 17th August 2023.
The majority of the issues relate directly to the risk, the impacts and planning assumptions relating to extreme heat, on human health, infrastructure, complex multi-hazard risk management, national strategy and policy arrangements.
This inquiry seeks to bridge the gap between science, policy and practice. By formulating a scientific evidence base on future heat resilience and apply this knowledge into effective prevention and mitigation, through sustainable low energy disaster risk reduction measures such as nature-based solutions.
Read the full press release from the UK Parliament website alongside the Environmental Audit Committee’s call for evidence