More than 85% of Islanders who responded to a localised Green Party survey say they were affected by June’s heatwave, with difficulty sleeping, dehydration and financial pressures among the biggest impacts reported.
The Isle of Wight Green Party surveyed throughout July, gathering responses from 273 residents on the Isle of Wight about how periods of extreme heat affect everyday life.
The results have been released as the UK enters what the party says is its fourth heatwave of the year, with temperatures forecast to reach as high as 35c this week.
According to the survey, more than 85% of respondents said they had been impacted by the June heatwave.
The most common issue was difficulty sleeping, affecting 72.2% of respondents, while 38.8% reported becoming dehydrated or feeling unwell. More than 1 in 5 said social events had been cancelled because of the heat, while 15% reported school closures affecting their household.
The survey also highlighted the financial impact of prolonged hot weather, with more than 62% of respondents saying the heatwave had cost them money.
Those responding cited increased water and electricity use, the purchase of fans and cooling equipment, and lost income due to work being cancelled. One café owner reported taking just £8 during a day of extreme temperatures because customers stayed away.
Pet owners also described significant challenges, with 118 respondents saying their animals had struggled during the heatwave. Comments included concerns about overheating and reduced appetite, while one respondent reported that their cat had died during the hot weather.
The survey also collected personal accounts from healthcare workers, people with disabilities, pregnant women and others who said the high temperatures had affected both their physical and mental wellbeing.
Vix Lowthion, Green Party Isle of Wight Councillor for Carisbrooke and Gunville, has said:
“The results of our Green Party Heatwave survey make sobering reading. Here we can listen and hear the desperate and anxious voices of ordinary islanders, who need greater support to cope with these alarming heatwave conditions.
“Whilst on the television news we see clips which associate the warm weather with happy children, beaches and ice creams, in reality many families clearly were forced to stay at home in order to keep cool and look after pets.
“We must take action to tackle the climate crisis now. The consequences are not hypothetical, they are very real – for our health, our animals and our local economy.”
The survey also invited residents to share advice for coping with future periods of extreme heat, with more than 150 respondents offering practical suggestions including keeping homes shaded during the day, opening windows overnight, checking on vulnerable neighbours and ensuring pets have access to cool spaces and plenty of water.
The Green Party says the survey was launched before the recent Isle of Wight wildfires and therefore did not examine the wider impact of prolonged hot weather on the Island’s countryside and wildlife, including the risks posed by BBQs, fireworks and sky lanterns.
