In the face of escalating climate challenges, the need for adaptation in British workplaces and schools is becoming increasingly apparent. While the proposal for maximum workplace temperatures by Green MP Hannah Spencer is a step in the right direction, it's crucial to recognize that businesses should not wait for legislation to protect workers. Extreme temperatures can significantly impact worker health and safety, impairing concentration and increasing fatigue, which in turn raises the likelihood of accidents.
Employers already have a legal obligation to provide a reasonable indoor workplace temperature and assess workplace risks. This includes implementing measures such as amending work schedules, moving physically demanding tasks to cooler parts of the day, providing shaded rest areas and free access to drinking water, and relaxing dress codes where appropriate. However, the debate over a UK maximum workplace temperature is an important one, and workers need protection now, not after new legislation has worked its way through parliament.
The situation in schools is equally dire. How can children learn in overheated classrooms? Wet paper towels and ice pops are inadequate. Our education system needs to build climate resilience – and fast. Climate action plans, required in schools by the Department for Education, are helpful. But, while there are pockets of good practice, the country needs a more systematic approach. School leaders and teachers require clear, practical, and detailed guidance to take the best action against extreme weather.
We can learn resilience from other countries experiencing record-breaking temperatures. In India and Pakistan, where we offer climate literacy courses, Cambridge researchers have studied how school buildings are using techniques like natural vegetation to cool school spaces and protect academic attainment. Since Covid, Cambridge OCR has been calling for a more resilient and flexible approach to assessment.
In my opinion, the UK is in crisis too, and education must be factored into practical adaptation plans. Summer terms have many 'milestone moments'. Hotter summers threaten these critical moments in young people's lives. We must adapt with safe climate-resilient learning infrastructure. A generation's right to education is at stake.
Personally, I think that investing in resilient education systems will not only help children recover from crisis but also enable them to shape their own futures. This is especially important in the context of the loss and damage caused by climate change, as discussed in a UN climate conference panel with Unicef. From my perspective, the UK needs to take a more proactive approach to climate adaptation, and education must be at the forefront of this effort.
