The Environmental Audit Committee is appointed by the House of Commons to consider to what extent the policies and programmes of government departments and non-departmental public bodies contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development; to audit their performance against such targets as may be set for them by His Majesty’s Ministers; and to report thereon to the House.
Environment Audit Committee into Extreme Heat and Sustainable Cooling is undertaking a short inquiry into Heat resilience and sustainable cooling. It will look at the relationship between heat and health; examine the adequacy of current Government policies in relation to current and future need for cooling; and consider what measures could be taken to increase adaptation and resilience to rising temperatures.
“Ultimately, we consider that a comprehensive national heat resilience strategy is required to draw together all of the recommendations outlined in our report and ensure coordinated action on all fronts. We were pleased to see the UK sign up to the Global Cooling Pledge initiative at COP28 and, with it, the commitment to produce a national
cooling action plan: if sufficiently ambitious, that plan could embody the heat resilience strategy which is clearly required. We stand ready to continue to work constructively with all relevant Government departments to make this a reality” – said in summary.
