Climate change: UK is unprepared for rising deaths and health disruption, report warns

The UK is not prepared to cope with the likely effects of a warming climate, such as escalating deaths and health system disruption, independent advisers have warned the government.In its 2025 report to parliament published on 30 April the Climate Change Committee (CCC)-an independent body that advises the government on emission targets-said that, without adequate action to adapt, heat related mortality could "rise several times over" to exceed 10 000 deaths a year by 2050. 1 Last year 1311 heat related deaths were reported in England during four heat episodes. 2 The UK is also likely to see increases in malaria and tickborne disease, as well as more overheating and flooding of NHS buildings, which the report said could be harmful to staff and disrupt surgery, laboratories, and IT systems.But the CCC said that the Labour government had so far not made improving resilience a priority, despite having pledged at the last general election to strengthen resilience and preparation across central government, local authorities, local communities, and emergency services.If unchecked, the committee warned, climate change could damage UK economic output by as much as 7% of GDP by 2050, with consequences for key infrastructure such as agriculture, railways, and water supplies.