Mayor Sadiq Khan Says Drivers Should Not Work in Unsafe Conditions, But Operator Arriva Says Fleet Updates Will Take Time

The UK government has ordered the NHS to prepare for annual summer heat pressures as heatwaves intensified by climate change become more frequent, with adaptation to extreme heat now a priority. London bus drivers plan to strike later this month over working conditions, as cab temperatures have neared 40C in recent heat; most buses rely on air-flow cooling rather than air conditioning. Mayor Sadiq Khan says drivers should not work in unsafe conditions, but operator Arriva says fleet updates will take time.

Rail services in southern England have been disrupted because dry soil has made embankments unsafe, and heat can warp rails, prompting speed limits. The RAC reports breakdowns up by a fifth, often from overheating engines or tyre blowouts. This year's harvest could be the worst on record, with cereal and oilseed yields down as much as 2.5m tonnes, worth £390m in lost revenue, according to the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit.

Grass growth has halved, forcing livestock farmers to use winter feed. The Country Land and Business Association is urging planning reforms for farm reservoirs. Tom Lancaster, ECIU food and farming analyst, said: "At the start of spring, farmers were hopeful of a better year, but the dry April and July and record-breaking heat have left farmers facing down the barrel of a third awful harvest in a row.

Fresh food prices have risen, with tomatoes up over 60%, iceberg lettuce 90%, and potatoes over 40%. The UK has no maximum legal working temperature, and court cases have been disrupted, including a Bristol judge using a virtual link because the dock was unusable in heat. Some libraries with air conditioning serve as "cool spaces.