Recommendations & Conclusions
22 items
1
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Heat resilience and sust…
Accepted
We have received compelling evidence that heat is having serious and widespread impacts on health, wellbeing and economic productivity. This is already costing the UK thousands of lives and billions of pounds annually, a situation which is set to get worse without concerted action. The social and economic case for …
Government response. The government launched the new Weather-Health Alert system in June 2023, which is an impact-based alerting system developed in collaboration with UKHSA and the Met Office. UKHSA will continue to engage with academic partners to understand humidity's role in health …
2
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Heat resilience and sust…
Deferred
We recommend that the Met Office and UKHSA incorporate explicit messaging and/ or metrics regarding the effects of humidity levels as well as temperature into weather forecasts and heat-health alerts. (Paragraph 20) The urban heat island effect and nature-based solutions
Government response. The government discusses its recognition of green infrastructure benefits, responsibility of local authorities for urban green spaces, and keeping green roof incentives under review, without addressing the recommendation for explicit humidity messaging in weather forecasts.
3
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Heat resilience and sust…
Rejected
Nature-based solutions to climate change, such as parks, trees, water bodies and green infrastructure, have significant cooling effects as well as multiple co-benefits (for example, for health, wellbeing, air quality, flood resilience and biodiversity). Increasing the amount of green space is one of the most important tools in tackling the …
Government response. The government acknowledges the benefits of green infrastructure but states that primary responsibility for expanding urban green space lies with local authorities and declines to mandate the Green Infrastructure Framework. It references existing funds but rejects central intervention or mandating …
4
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Heat resilience and sust…
Deferred
We recommend that the Government take action to expand urban green space, particularly in disadvantaged areas. At a minimum these actions ought to include: (i) introducing a statutory requirement on local authorities to protect green space; (ii) mandating local authorities in urban areas to use the Green Infrastructure Framework; and …
Government response. The government states it is running a call for evidence on Part O of the Building Regulations, specifically regarding its application to material changes of use, to inform future reviews and updates. This does not address expanding urban green space, …
5
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Heat resilience and sust…
Deferred
We recommend that the Government evaluate the case for amending Part L of the Building Regulations to encourage the use of ceiling fans (for example, by including locally controlled air movement in the definition of comfort).
Government response. The government is running a call for evidence on Part O of the Building Regulations to understand omissions or issues, which will inform future updates. This response does not address evaluating the case for amending Part L to encourage the …
6
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Heat resilience and sust…
Accepted
We support the extension of Part O of the Building Regulations not only to cover material changes of use to residential, but also for refurbishments of existing properties. We recommend that the Government clarify whether it is intended that Part O of the Building Regulations be expanded to refurbishments. If …
Government response. The government highlights existing and recently extended funding schemes for retrofitting existing buildings, including the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, a new local authority retrofit scheme, and the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. DESNZ is also conducting research to support the development of …
7
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Heat resilience and sust…
Rejected
We recommend that measures taken under Part O should be subject to post-occupancy evaluation within the first year of their installation.
Government response. The government rejected the recommendation for post-occupancy evaluation under Part O, stating there are no current plans for its inclusion. However, they are seeking feedback through a call for evidence on potential omissions or issues, which may inform future updates.
8
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Heat resilience and sust…
Accepted
We were pleased to note that the recent extension of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme announced by the Prime Minister in September 2023 has now been backed by additional funding for grants. The funded extension of the scheme represents a welcome move towards the long-term programme of retrofitting the existing housing …
Government response. The Government welcomes recognition of the extension of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) and outlines additional funding and schemes to support retrofitting of existing buildings, including a local authority retrofit scheme, the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, and a new energy …
9
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Heat resilience and sust…
Accepted
We consider that there are further opportunities to combine existing initiatives on insulation and energy efficiency into a more ambitious and comprehensive housing retrofit programme which addresses the risks of overheating in existing properties. Such an approach, if well designed and delivered, can minimise both cost and disruption while ensuring …
Government response. The government has set a target of 600,000 heat pump installations annually by 2028 and launched a £5m Heat Training Grant to support 10,000 trainees by 2025. It is also investing in Regional Skills Pilots, updating apprenticeship frameworks, and aims …
10
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Heat resilience and sust…
Accepted in Part
We therefore recommend that the Government establish a comprehensive national retrofit programme to adapt the UK’s housing stock for both net zero and thermal comfort. The programme should include the following elements to maximise its impact and minimise costs: • Local delivery via local authorities, underpinned by adequate long-term funding; …
Government response. The government partially accepted the recommendation, detailing existing progress, the extension of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, and a £6 billion support package, including £500 million for a new local authority retrofit scheme. They also highlighted a research programme to support …
11
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Heat resilience and sust…
Deferred
We urge the Government to respond as soon as possible to its consultation on improving home energy performance through lenders which closed in February 2021. Ministers must rapidly bring forward proposals to encourage access to low-cost finance for householders to invest in home improvements which can increase energy efficiency and …
Government response. The government plans to respond to the consultation in 2024. It highlights an existing 'Green Home Finance Accelerator programme' which is supporting the development and piloting of green finance products until March 2025 to inform future policy, rather than rapidly …
12
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Heat resilience and sust…
Deferred
We further recommend that the Government publishes any interim or draft recommendations made by the Energy Efficiency Taskforce before it was disbanded.
Government response. The government's response discusses UKHSA's position on cooling centers, noting difficulty in evaluating their impact and an absence of specific recommendations for their use, while highlighting a toolkit for local organizations to deliver and evaluate warm spaces and ongoing review …
13
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Heat resilience and sust…
Deferred
We urge the Government to set out, in its response to this report, the targets (if any) which Ministers have set for growth in the supply chain of competent retrofit installers, and the progress made against these targets to date. If no targets have yet been set, we recommend that …
Government response. The government states DESNZ will continue engaging with the Electricity System Operator and Ofgem on modelling developments and updating electricity demand forecasting, without addressing targets for retrofit installer supply chain growth or progress against such targets.
14
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Heat resilience and sust…
Rejected
While sources of accurate, reliable and helpful guidance on dealing with extreme heat do exist, this information does not appear always to be reaching everyone who needs it, leading to avoidable health harms. We raised this issue in our 2018 Heatwaves report but little progress appears to have been made. …
Government response. The government rejected the recommendation to launch a new Minister-led public information campaign, arguing that general campaigns may be less effective. Instead, they highlighted ongoing significant progress in publishing guidance and coordinating existing messaging with partners, focusing on vulnerable groups …
15
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Heat resilience and sust…
Deferred
The naming of heatwaves could assist in helping the public to recognise such extreme weather events as a threat to health and wellbeing in the same way as named storms. We recommend that the Met Office trial the naming of heatwaves for 2024 with a view to making this permanent …
Government response. The government states Defra is reviewing unspecified regulations to achieve greater emissions savings for net zero targets, with proposals to be consulted upon. This response does not address the recommendation to trial the naming of heatwaves.
16
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Heat resilience and sust…
Deferred
While there is potential for cooling centres to be an important part of future resilience measures for those most vulnerable to heat impacts, evidence of their effectiveness is not clear cut at present. We recommend that UKHSA evaluate the potential use of cooling centre initiatives as a policy response to …
Government response. The government deferred the recommendation, stating that evidence on the efficacy of cooling centres is currently limited, which constrains the development of policy advice. UKHSA will work with research partners to address these evidence gaps and continue to review literature …
17
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Heat resilience and sust…
Acknowledged
We recommend that the Future System Operator make specific provision for the likely future demand for electricity for cooling purposes in all its future scenario planning.
Government response. The government acknowledged the recommendation, stating that DESNZ will continue to engage with the Electricity System Operator and Ofgem to explore appropriate updates to electricity demand forecasting, including for cooling purposes.
18
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Heat resilience and sust…
Accepted
We recommend that in its response to this report the Government set out what progress it has made on establishing Minimum Energy Performance Standards in relation to cooling equipment since COP26; what the future trajectory for establishing such standards is; and how the Government plans to meet the 2030 deadline …
Government response. The government has existing ecodesign regulations with minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) for cooling products and is currently researching updates for commercial refrigeration, committing to do the same for other products in due course. It affirms plans to meet the …
19
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Heat resilience and sust…
Deferred
We recommend that the Government evaluate the merits of introducing a takeback scheme in England to improve disposal practices regarding cooling equipment, thereby helping to minimise F-gas leakage, with a view to introducing a pilot takeback scheme in England and promoting its merits to the administrations in Scotland, Wales and …
Government response. The government deferred the recommendation, stating that Defra is reviewing the F-gas Regulation and will consult on proposals for changes in due course, rather than specifically committing to evaluate and pilot a takeback scheme now.
20
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Heat resilience and sust…
Accepted
Effective joint working is not just desirable but essential if the impacts of heat are to be tackled in a coordinated, holistic and cost-effective way. This does not seem to be happening to a sufficient degree at present in the UK. The establishment of a Climate Resilience Board, under the …
Government response. The government fully accepted the recommendation by providing details of the Climate Resilience Steering Board's membership, stating it has met twice since October 2023 (October 2023 and January 2024), and confirming it meets at least quarterly, with the next meeting …
21
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Heat resilience and sust…
Rejected
We recommend that the Government appoint a lead Minister for Heat Resilience to act as a focal point and drive forward coordinated action across government departments, local government, community sector stakeholders and the private sector in this area. (Paragraph 100) A heat resilience strategy
Government response. The government rejected the recommendation to appoint a lead Minister for Heat Resilience, stating that existing Lead Government Department structures and Defra's Minister for Nature already provide the necessary coordination and oversight for climate adaptation.
22
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Heat resilience and sust…
Accepted
We commend the UK Government on being among the first signatories of the Global Cooling Pledge, which represents a significant step forward in terms of heat resilience and sustainable cooling, and is a welcome demonstration of international leadership in this area. In particular we note the commitment under the GCP …
Government response. The government accepted the recommendation, committing to develop and publish a 'cooling outlook document' as the UK's equivalent to a national cooling action plan. They anticipate its publication in the early part of the next parliament, ahead of the 2026 …