Gaps in public perceptions of extreme heat highlight UK’s lack of preparedness

Under a changing climate, heatwaves are expected to become more frequent, prolonged and extreme, posing substantial risks to populations around the world. Public perceptions of extreme heat are chronically under-researched, despite being important precursors to heat-protective actions, policy acceptance and community heat resilience.

In a nationally representative survey of UK residents, the authors of this paper find several dividing lines, gaps and contradictions in heat perceptions concerning national and individual-level preparedness, heat behaviours and communication. They find that heat is viewed as life-threatening and the public believes the UK is not prepared, but while the risk to other people is acknowledged, few individuals besides those categorised as ‘vulnerable’ see themselves at risk. Perceptions are also influenced by geographical location, with those in urban areas more likely to perceive a risk. Proactive, people-centred measures must account for these perceptual gaps to minimise the impacts of extreme heat and to safeguard those most vulnerable in the UK and beyond.