This summer broke records around the UK for maximum temperatures and dry weather. <\/p>\n
According to the UK\u2019s Met Office, while it was rare to hit 35\u00b0C in the 20th century, that temperature has been surpassed<\/a> in six out of the past ten years. And it\u2019s only expected to get higher<\/a>.<\/p>\n Rising temperatures<\/a> not only contribute to illness and deaths<\/a>, but also to wildfires, water shortages<\/a> and the collapse of infrastructure and services<\/a>. <\/p>\n So has this changed the public\u2019s attitudes at all? According to recent polling data, around 74% of people in the UK say they\u2019ve directly experienced extreme heat<\/a>, up from 46% before the summer of 2026. And 62% now say extreme heat is the most pressing climate impact, up from 36% in October 2024. Concern about wildfires has jumped from 13% in October 2024, to 47% in 2026.<\/p>\n High temperatures made more 50% of British people more fearful about the future<\/a>, including how hot summers will affect children<\/a>. One poll<\/a> found that 65% of the British public were now concerned about climate change, and only 16% unworried. Among Reform supporters this was 46% and among Green Party supporters 87%.<\/p>\n Polling shows that climate change<\/a> and the environment<\/a> shot up people\u2019s lists of concerns in 2026, with 51% of people saying the recent heatwaves made them feel it\u2019s more important that the UK government and businesses tackle climate change<\/a>. The issue saw less of a jump in concern levels in Scotland, where temperatures were generally lower.<\/p>\n Indeed, public support for specific climate and environmental policies increased<\/a> slightly from April to August 2026. For example, net support for a frequent flyer levy rose from 18% to 20% and for low-traffic neighbourhoods from 14% to 18%.<\/p>\n Hosepipe bans were declared in parts of the UK during the summer of 2026.<\/p>\n This is a noticeable shift even from a few years ago \u2013 when scientists at the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations research centre asked people about their experiences of the 2022 heatwave<\/a>, and many still saw heat as desirable. In the middle of the 2026 summer, British people said they associated the weather with words including \u201cexhausted\u201d, \u201cuncomfortable\u201d and \u201cunbearable\u201d<\/a>. <\/p>\n However, wider research<\/a> shows that experiencing extreme weather such as flooding, hot summers and hurricanes has a negligible<\/a> effect on climate change belief.<\/p>\n Partly, this is due to what psychologists call \u201cmotivated reasoning\u201d<\/a> \u2013 people interpret events according to what they want to be true. <\/p>\n For example, reactions to hot weather can depend on political affiliation, with progressive\/left-leaning groups being more likely to report personal experience of extreme heat<\/a> and increase their support for related policy<\/a> after a heatwave, compared with those supporting right-wing parties. <\/p>\n What changes what people do?<\/p>\n So experiencing extreme weather only boosts support for climate-related policy<\/a>, if people link it to climate change, or it fits with their world view. This means there is no sign of the 27% of voters<\/a> opposed to net zero changing their position on the basis of experiencing a hot summer<\/a>.<\/p>\n Climate worry doesn\u2019t noticeably change people\u2019s behaviour like saving water or reducing car use. Choices are shaped far more by demographic factors and income<\/a>. As an example, personal income explains about 18%<\/a> of variance about flying somewhere, while concern about climate change explains less than 1%.<\/p>\n However, the issues caused by climate change (water shortages, high heat) could keep climate change nearer the top of the political agenda<\/a>. <\/p>\n Communicating differently could help increase public backing for climate policies, by better connecting heatwaves with climate impact. Doing this would appear to boost policy support<\/a>. <\/p>\n Some people see hot summers as an opportunity for \u201cfun in the sun\u201d<\/a>, despite the serious risks it poses. This positive imagery may make people less worried<\/a> about heatwaves and climate change.<\/p>\n But extreme weather can provide moments<\/a> for climate engagement, as well as an opportunity to change behaviour. Interventions at critical times<\/a> are more effective at changing behaviour because when habits are disrupted, people are more open to considering alternatives. For example, when there\u2019s a hosepipe ban, policymakers can use this as an opportunity<\/a> to shift people towards saving more water.<\/p>\n