June heatwave in the UK caused mass sleep deprivation, poll reveals

A recent poll conducted by YouGov for Greenpeace revealed that during the June heatwave, two-thirds of UK residents struggled to sleep. The extreme temperatures, attributed to the climate crisis, left 86% of homes feeling excessively hot, leading to widespread discomfort and health concerns.

Impact of the June Heatwave on Sleep Patterns

According to the poll, nearly half of the respondents reported losing at least three hours of sleep each night during the heatwave. This alarming trend aligns with scientific studies indicating that global heating is adversely affecting sleep quality worldwide. The data reflects the growing concern over how extreme weather conditions are impacting daily life.

Dr. Laurence Wainwright from the University of Oxford noted, “When we have ‘tropical nights’—where temperatures don’t fall below 20C—a good night’s sleep is all but impossible for most. The implications are significant: a drop in work performance, an increase in accidents, lower school test scores, and a decline in mental health.”

Public Health and Safety Concerns

The June heatwave not only disrupted sleep but also posed serious health risks. The UK Health Security Agency previously reported over 10,000 heat-related deaths from summer heatwaves between 2020 and 2024. The recent survey found that about a quarter of respondents felt physically unwell during the heatwave, while one in five had to cancel plans or discard spoiled food.

• 86% of homes felt too hot
• 25% reported feeling unwell
• 20% canceled plans due to heat
• 20% threw away food due to spoilage

Need for Infrastructure Upgrades

The poll indicated that over half of the participants believed their homes required retrofitting to handle future heatwaves, yet 78% expressed concern about the affordability of such upgrades. A significant portion of respondents supported a levy on highly polluting companies to fund these necessary improvements, with 47% in favor.

Mel Evans, head of climate at Greenpeace UK, emphasized, “The poll exposes the brutal reality of dragging our feet on climate action in the UK, such as mass sleep deprivation. Heatwaves are now a creeping health, housing, and economic emergency that is costing families money they don’t have.”

The Climate Change Committee has warned that the UK's infrastructure is inadequate to protect citizens from increasingly severe weather, stating that the country is “built for a climate that no longer exists.”