3 in 4 Britons (74%) concerned about climate change today following heatwave summer
- 3 in 4 Britons (74%) report being concerned about climate change today. Slightly fewer, 69%, remember being concerned prior to this summer.
- Nearly 9 in 10 (87%) think it is likely that Britain will experience similar severe heatwaves in future summers.
- Over half of British adults (56%) state that the extreme summer weather has disrupted their ability to carry out normal daily activities like working, exercising, or sleeping.
New polling data from Ipsos in the UK, conducted 31st July – 4th August 2026, reveals significant public concern following a summer of elevated temperatures, with the majority of the population reporting personal daily disruption and anticipating recurring extreme weather events.
Commenting on the findings Raquel de Luis, Head of Energy and Environment at Ipsos in the UK, said:
The intense heat this summer and visible wildfires across Europe has served as visible focus point around discussions on climate change, which may be driving a clear uptick in immediate concern and leaving nearly nine in ten convinced that these heatwaves are our new normal.
While over half of British adults report that their daily routines were disrupted by the heat, we see a distinct gap between public concern and practical action.
A significant portion of the public feels the Labour government is falling short on climate response, yet individual households are struggling to adapt independently, with affordability standing as a primary barrier to installing effective home cooling measures.
Moving forward, the key challenge for Westminster will be delivering accessible, cost-effective infrastructure and adaptation support that enables households to build resilience against recurring summer heat without adding to their financial burdens.
Rising climate anxiety and widespread daily impact
Despite widespread concern over future weather patterns, public confidence in political solutions remains low, and financial barriers are stalling household adaptation efforts.
- Just over a third (37%) of Britons feel the UK Government has done a "bad job" dealing with climate change since coming into power in July 2024, compared to 13% who feel they have done a "good job" (a net rating of -24%).
- When evaluating alternative parties, the Green Party is most likely to be seen to do a better job dealing with climate change – 35% say they would do a better job v 24% saying they would do a worse job, 37% the same. A majority (55%) think Reform-led government would do a worse job, while 39% say the Conservatives would do a worse job.
- Portable fans, blackout blinds/curtains, and insulation are already fairly common, but air conditioning units were the most frequently selected feature that people plan to install in the next 2–3 years (29%).
- The top reason for not planning to make home cooling changes is lack of affordability (39%).
Notes:
- For media queries, please contact the Ipsos in the UK Press Office at [email protected]
- For the full findings, please visit the Ipsos website.
- Ipsos interviewed a representative sample of 1,085 online British adults aged 16–75 across Great Britain. Polling was conducted online between 31st July and 4th August 2026.
- Data are weighted to match the profile of the population. All polls are subject to a wide range of potential sources of error.
