Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Deferred
Evaluate cooling centre effectiveness and publish advice for authorities supporting vulnerable populations during extreme heat.
Recommendation
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 excessive heat, with a view to developing and publishing advice to central government and local authorities on a suite of practical initiatives which can be taken to support populations which are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat. (Paragraph 83) Energy consumption and efficiency
Government Response Summary
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 on cool space effectiveness.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
There is strong evidence for the health benefits of generalised adverse weather planning to respond to heat risks but evidence on the efficacy of cooling centres specifically remains limited, constraining development of policy advice. As noted in UKHSA’s original submission to the Committee, cooling centres are often implemented internationally in high income settings as part of wider heat response plans. However, the role and impact of cooling centres in protecting people’s health during hot weather is difficult to evaluate. In 2023, UKHSA conducted an internal systematic review of international evidence on the health impacts of cooling spaces and identified just two studies that met the criteria, both from the USA. The studies reported data on service use and user experience. No published data relating to heat-related health impacts from cooling centre use, and no data from the UK more specifically, was identified through the review. In the absence of robust evidence for or against the use of cooling centres in hot weather to improve health outcomes, UKHSA currently provides no specific recommendation on their use as part of our suite of guidance for heat. We have, however, identified priorities for research on effective interventions to protect health in the context of climate change including adaptation measures to heat. UKHSA will work with research partners to address these gaps. To help support evaluation of warm spaces during periods of cold weather (for which evidence is similarly fragmented), UKHSA recently published a toolkit for local, regional and national actors12 to help build the evidence base on impact in England. This toolkit provides a framework of principles to assist organisations in the local delivery and evaluation of warm spaces in England which may be of assistance to local authorities developing similar responses for hot weather. The toolkit includes a request for local actors leading evaluation work for these spaces to share results with UKHSA and with colleagues and other organisations across the country, to support best practice. UKHSA will continue to review and synthesise literature evidence on cool space effectiveness through periodic updates to the Supporting Evidence Document for the AWHP, and collation of evaluation evidence from those involved in service delivery..