SOARING temperatures in the future are likely to impact the health of 10,000 people across Wiltshire new figures suggest.

In response an environmental organisation has called for suggested government goals to stop being “short-sighted and reckless”.

This warning comes after a week of intense heat swept across the entire country, with some areas reaching highs of 40C.

Locally, Salisbury experienced highs of 34C, and was issued a three-day amber weather alert by the Met Office.

Friends of the Earth, which says tens of thousands of people are likely to be impacted, states that estimates are based on the current climate pledges, and it is likely to see the world heading towards an increase of 2.4C in warmth.

Head of research at Friends of the Earth, Mike Childs, said: "To prevent the most dangerous scenarios becoming a reality, all countries, including the UK, must make greater efforts to prevent runaway climate breakdown.

"Suggestions by some politicians that the UK should dial back on climate goals are short-sighted and reckless. People on the frontlines of the climate crisis in the UK and overseas are already being hit by its impacts, despite being the least responsible.

"We need governments to double-down on cutting emissions and providing funding for climate adaptation programmes."

Those who are most at risk are those without access to green spaces, are living in mobile homes or, in high-rise buildings where it is easier to overheat.

Hot weather places greater strain on the heart and lungs and older people, children, and anyone with a pre-existing health condition, will be more vulnerable.

An in-depth study by Loughborough University in partnership with the Building Research Establishment (BRE) in 2018 revealed that 4.6 million bedrooms in England and 3.6 million living rooms are overheated.

Overheating occurred more at night than in living rooms during the day but overheating in living rooms was much greater in flats, 30 per cent.

In addition, social housing households with those individuals over state pension age or on a low income were also at greater risk.

Research from the University of Manchester proposes that an at-risk neighbourhood is an area that will experience extreme heat for more than five days every summer.

This is defined as being above 27.5C with global warming of 1.5C, or over 30C if global warming is at 3C.

The Government pledged to reduce emissions by 68 per cent by 2030 and 78 per cent by 2035 before reaching net zero by 2050.

A government spokesperson said: "Local areas have an integral part to play in tackling climate change, which is why significant funding is already available to councils for them to take local action, including £1.2 billion in dedicated funds for 2020-21."

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