Wales is experiencing a heatwave, but it's not just a one-off event. The country is getting hotter, and it's part of a longer-term trend. The number of hot days in Wales has doubled in recent decades, and the consequences are far-reaching.
The heat is causing dehydration, heat stress, and increased deaths from heart attacks, strokes, and lung disease. It's also affecting schools, the rail network, and rural areas, with reduced grass growth, crop yields, and increased wildfire risk. But what's most concerning is the long-term direction Wales is heading.
The average number of hot days in Wales doubled between the periods 1981-2000 and 2001-2020. Under the level of global warming expected by 2050, the number is projected to increase by another 50%. That means extreme heat will become increasingly likely, and Wales will have to adapt to a climate in which temperatures once considered exceptional become the new normal.
The independent Climate Change Committee has identified intensifying heat and drought as two of the UK's priority climate risks. It recommends investment in active and passive cooling in hospitals, schools, prisons, and care homes, the introduction of maximum working-temperature regulations, and faster provision of cooling for people particularly vulnerable to heat. The previous Welsh Government set out measures for dealing with extreme heat in its Climate Adaptation Strategy, and the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales has called for a legal climate adaptation framework.
But it's not just about adapting to heatwaves. Climate scientists say global warming will continue until the world reaches net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. That means adapting to heatwaves, drought, and flooding will become an increasingly significant challenge for Wales in the decades ahead. So, what can we do? Well, it's time to take action. Support our Nation today and help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales. Get more trusted Welsh news by choosing Nation.Cymru as a preferred source in Google News to see more of our journalism.
