Select committee: Environmental Audit Committee

Fifth Report - Heat resilience and sustainable cooling

HC 279 Published 31 January 2024

Environmental Audit Committee Heat resilience and sustainable cooling Report on parliament.uk ↗

At a glance19 recommendations and 3 conclusions · Government response published 30 April 2024 (deadline 31 March 2024)

The government's response

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government welcomes the report and sets out its position recommendation by recommendation, declining to mandate use of the Green Infrastructure Framework, to name heatwaves or to run a public information campaign targeting the general public, while pointing to existing measures and consultations.

On green space, the government "has not chosen to mandate" the Green Infrastructure Framework "at this time", saying it is important to allow local authorities "the space to develop their own policies".
On heatwave naming, the government says there is "insufficient evidence that naming of heatwaves is effective and there are no plans to introduce heatwave naming"; the Met Office "will keep this under review as research in this area develops".
On the public information campaign, it says "it is not clear that a public information campaign targeting the general public would be effective" relative to a differentiated approach for those most at risk.
On a national cooling action plan, it will develop a "cooling outlook document" and is "working to publish" it before the 2026 target date, anticipating publication "in the early part of the next parliament".

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

What the committee recommended 22

1
Extreme heat has serious, widespread impacts on UK health, wellbeing, and economic productivity. Conclusion · paragraph 17
2
Incorporate explicit humidity level messaging into Met Office and UKHSA weather forecasts and heat alerts. Recommendation · paragraph 20
3
Nature-based solutions are crucial for cooling, but the green infrastructure framework lacks wide implementation. Recommendation · paragraph 35
4
Expand urban green space by requiring local authorities to protect green spaces and use framework. Recommendation · paragraph 36
5
Evaluate amending Building Regulations Part L to encourage greater use of ceiling fans. Recommendation · paragraph 48

See all 22 recommendations and conclusions

Sources

Fifth Report - Heat resilience and sustainable cooling ↗The committee's report, HC 279, parliament.uk
Seventh Special Report - Heat resilience and sustainable cooling: Government Response to the Committee’s Fifth Report ↗The government's response, 30 April 2024, parliament.uk

Recommendations and conclusions 22

1
Extreme heat has serious, widespread impacts on UK health, wellbeing, and economic productivity. Conclusion · paragraph 17 Conclusion (the committee's words)
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 accelerating heat adaptation measures in the UK is clear-cut.
2
Incorporate explicit humidity level messaging into Met Office and UKHSA weather forecasts and heat alerts. Recommendation · paragraph 20 Recommendation (the committee's words)
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.
3
Nature-based solutions are crucial for cooling, but the green infrastructure framework lacks wide implementation. Recommendation · paragraph 35 Recommendation (the committee's words)
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 impacts of heat, especially in urban areas. Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework, incorporating the Urban Greening Factor, is therefore a significant and welcome step forward in setting out how green infrastructure can be best designed and implemented; however, the framework only applies to new developments, and evidence suggests that it is not yet being put into practice at scale by local authorities.
4
Expand urban green space by requiring local authorities to protect green spaces and use framework. Recommendation · paragraph 36 Recommendation (the committee's words)
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 (iii) introducing measures to incentivise the installation of green roofs as new build or retrofit on appropriate residential or business premises.
5
Evaluate amending Building Regulations Part L to encourage greater use of ceiling fans. Recommendation · paragraph 48 Recommendation (the committee's words)
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).
6
Clarify Government intention to expand Building Regulations Part O to cover property refurbishments. Recommendation · paragraph 54 Recommendation (the committee's words)
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 that is indeed the case, we recommend that Ministers, in their response to this report, set out when, and by what mechanism, this is to be achieved. If it is not the case, we recommend that Ministers explain how the UK is to achieve Commitment M5 of the Global Cooling Pledge.
7
Mandate post-occupancy evaluation for all measures taken under Building Regulations Part O. Recommendation · paragraph 56 Recommendation (the committee's words)
We recommend that measures taken under Part O should be subject to post-occupancy evaluation within the first year of their installation.
8
Boiler Upgrade Scheme extension with additional funding represents welcome progress for retrofitting. Conclusion · paragraph 65 Conclusion (the committee's words)
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 stock which we have advocated in previous reports.
9
Significant opportunities exist to create a comprehensive housing retrofit programme addressing overheating risks. Conclusion · paragraph 66 Conclusion (the committee's words)
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 homes are energy efficient and remain comfortable to live in.
10
Establish a comprehensive national retrofit programme to adapt UK housing stock for net zero and comfort. Recommendation · paragraph 67 Recommendation (the committee's words)
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; • Prioritisation of vulnerable households; • A fabric-first approach focusing on insulation and ventilation; • Adoption of a cooling hierarchy prioritising passive measures, and then fans, above active cooling mechanisms; • Consideration of the benefits and drawbacks of installing reversible heat pumps, bearing in mind such factors as: (i) whether or not active cooling is likely to be required following installation of passive measures and (if appropriate) fans; (ii) the vulnerability of the building occupant(s); and (iii) progress on decarbonising the national grid at the time of installation
11
Respond to consultation and rapidly introduce proposals for low-cost home energy improvement finance. Recommendation · paragraph 68 Recommendation (the committee's words)
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 heat resilience.
12
Publish all interim or draft recommendations made by the Energy Efficiency Taskforce. Recommendation · paragraph 69 Recommendation (the committee's words)
We further recommend that the Government publishes any interim or draft recommendations made by the Energy Efficiency Taskforce before it was disbanded.
13
Set out targets for growth in competent retrofit installer supply chain or establish ambitious new ones. Recommendation · paragraph 71 Recommendation (the committee's words)
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 Ministers seek to set ambitious targets for supply chain growth.
14
Launch a Minister-led public information campaign on heatwave threats and human health impacts. Recommendation · paragraph 75 Recommendation (the committee's words)
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. We reiterate the recommendation from our predecessor committee’s 2018 Heatwaves report that the Government should launch a Minister-led public information campaign on the developing threat of heatwaves and their significant impact on human health and activities. This could be based on the information on the UKHSA’s Beat the Heat webpage. It should have a particular focus on vulnerable groups.
15
Trial the naming of heatwaves for 2024 to enhance public recognition of severe events. Recommendation · paragraph 78 Recommendation (the committee's words)
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 if the trial is deemed successful.
16
Evaluate cooling centre effectiveness and publish advice for authorities supporting vulnerable populations during extreme heat. Recommendation · paragraph 83 Recommendation (the committee's words)
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.
17
Incorporate future electricity demand for cooling purposes into all system operator scenario planning. Recommendation · paragraph 86 Recommendation (the committee's words)
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.
18
Require Government to set out progress on cooling equipment Minimum Energy Performance Standards and 2030 Global Cooling Pledge plans. Recommendation · paragraph 90 Recommendation (the committee's words)
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 specified in the Global Cooling Pledge.
19
Evaluate merits of introducing a cooling equipment takeback scheme to minimise F-gas leakage. Recommendation · paragraph 94 Recommendation (the committee's words)
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 Northern Ireland.
20
Require Government to publish details on Climate Resilience Board membership, meetings, and 2024 schedule. Recommendation · paragraph 99 Recommendation (the committee's words)
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 auspices of the Cabinet Office and DEFRA, is potentially an important development as long as it includes representation from all relevant Government departments, agencies and other organisations, and meets sufficiently frequently. The Government should set out, in its response to this report, details of the membership of the Climate Resilience Board; how often it has met since being established; and its expected meeting schedule in 2024.
21
Appoint a lead Minister for Heat Resilience to drive coordinated cross-government action effectively. Recommendation · paragraph 100 Recommendation (the committee's words)
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.
22
Require Government to publish a clear timetable for the UK national cooling action plan. Recommendation · paragraph 102 Recommendation (the committee's words)
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 to produce a national cooling action plan. We hope our inquiry and the findings set out in this report assist in shaping what this looks like and we remain keen to continue to work constructively with all relevant Departments on this topic. In response to this report, we expect the Government to set out a clear and achievable timetable for the introduction of a UK national cooling action plan as required by the Global Cooling Pledge.