For people with disabilities, recent heatwaves in the UK are not merely about discomfort but about safety, as record-high May temperatures expose a stark inequality exacerbated by the climate crisis. Frances Ryan, a Guardian columnist living with post-viral fatigue, describes how heat now brings suffering rather than pleasure, forcing her to stay in bed with fans. While air conditioning (AC) installations have doubled in three years, reaching four million households, those most in need—disabled and chronically ill people on low incomes or benefits—cannot afford it. Portable AC units cost hundreds of pounds, and many disabled renters lack permission to install them. This class divide means the more someone requires AC to survive, the less likely they are to afford it, with costs rising up to 17% since last month.
Vulnerable Populations at Risk
Beyond individual households, vulnerable groups such as older people in care homes, children in schools, prisoners, and hospital patients are at the mercy of institutions that may not invest in cooling. In 2022, over 4,500 Britons died from heat-related causes when temperatures exceeded 40°C. Social media images of chronically ill people wearing eye masks in daylight underscore the daily struggle. Short-term solutions include emergency AC installation in schools and care homes, as well as "cool spaces" akin to winter heat hubs. However, AC is environmentally unsustainable, contributing to climate breakdown.
Long-Term Solutions Needed
Britain must build homes designed for hotter weather, especially social housing, as existing stock overheats, disproportionately affecting minority ethnic groups, low-income households, and families with young children. Addressing the climate crisis through emissions reduction and renewable energy is fundamental. Politically, extreme weather fuels rightwing populism, as seen with Nigel Farage opposing heat pump subsidies and Tony Blair questioning net zero. Ryan, who can afford AC for her bedroom, feels guilty and lucky, acknowledging that millions will not have a safe room during the next inevitable heatwave.
