UK — A YouGov poll conducted for Greenpeace between June 30 and July 1, 2026, found that a majority of UK residents experienced sleep disruption and health issues during the June heatwave. The survey, which included 2,135 adults, revealed that two-thirds of respondents struggled to sleep, and nearly half reported losing at least three hours of sleep each night.

The poll indicated that 86% of individuals found their homes too hot, and a quarter stated that they or someone in their household felt physically unwell due to the heatwave. Roughly one in five people canceled plans because of the high temperatures, and the same proportion had to discard food that spoiled or could not be kept cool.

During the heatwave, a temperature of 37.7C was recorded in Lingwood, Norfolk. Record-breaking overnight minimum temperatures were also noted, with 23.5C in Wales and 23.2C in England. Mel Evans, head of climate at Greenpeace UK, said, "Heatwaves are now a creeping health, housing and economic emergency that is costing families money they don't have." Evans added, "As these extremes become our new normal, the public wants the corporate polluters who made this mess to pay their fair share towards fixing it."

A majority of respondents, over half, believed their homes required retrofit upgrades to manage future heatwaves. However, 78% of these individuals stated they would struggle to afford such upgrades. Almost half expressed support for a levy on highly polluting companies to finance these home improvements, making it the most preferred funding option.

The impact extended to workplaces, with 60% of respondents reporting their workplaces were too hot. More than a quarter said their productivity decreased, and nearly one in 10 felt they were working in unsafe conditions. Laurence Wainwright of the University of Oxford said, "When we have 'tropical nights' – where temperatures don't fall below 20C – a good night's sleep is all but impossible for most." He added, "The implications are significant: a drop in work performance, an increase in accidents, lower school test scores [and] a decline in mental health."

Hans Kluge, the World Health Organization's director for Europe, stated, "People are struggling to sleep, emergency rooms are filling up and ambulance services are breaking records." Kluge noted that heat-related deaths in Europe in 2023 would have been around 80% higher without adaptation measures already in place, adding, "We need more of them [as] the summers ahead will be harder."

Why It Matters

The findings from the YouGov poll show the widespread impact of the June 2026 heatwave on daily life in the UK, affecting health, homes, and productivity. The public's demand for climate adaptation measures, such as home retrofits, is evident, alongside concerns about the affordability of these changes. The proposed funding method of a levy on polluting companies indicates a public desire for shared responsibility in addressing climate change impacts.

The Climate Change Committee previously warned in May that the UK's infrastructure is not suited for the changing climate, advocating for urgent adaptations. The UK Health Security Agency has also reported over 10,000 heatwave-related deaths between 2020 and 2024, indicating a pattern of health risks associated with rising temperatures.