'Mass negligence' not to prepare for more deadly heat and flooding

Wales' new government must do more to prepare the country for deadly heatwaves, droughts and flooding, according to the UK's advisers on climate change.

The independent Climate Change Committee (CCC) said cooling measures were needed in hospitals and care homes, with more investment in flood protection and stabilising coal tips.

The Fire Brigades Union warned more intense flooding and wildfires threatened to push services "past breaking point" while Wales' Future Generations Commissioner said it would be "mass negligence" not to prioritise adapting to extreme weather.

The Welsh government said it was "committed to improving our nation's preparedness for climate impacts".

The 10 hottest years on record have all happened since the early 2000s.

The report says hotter summers will become "the new normal" while heatwaves lasting at least a week will be common by the middle of the century.

Unless more is done to protect vulnerable people, excess heat-related deaths are projected to increase from 1,400-3,000 per year currently across the UK to 3,000-10,000 by 2050.

Should the world fail to limit the rise in global warming by cutting greenhouse gas emissions, the figures increase dramatically.

With 4C global warming by 2100, there could be up to 18,000 heat-related deaths a year across the UK, while parts of Wales would also become suitable for disease-carrying mosquitoes, the report warns.

Cooling measures in healthcare facilities, care homes and schools are called for - from air conditioning to using shutters and blinds and tree-planting to provide shade.

The report also says the UK government should commit to a "national maximum temperature for workplaces" to protect workers' safety and incentivise the deployment of cooling.

Sandra Evans, who manages Bryn Seiont Newydd nursing home in Caernarfon, said they were "very fortunate" to have air conditioning in communal areas.

"It makes it bearable for our residents, because it can be really, really difficult [during a heatwave]," she said.

"I've worked in other homes where there's no air conditioning unit and residents would become agitated and more distressed," she explained, adding there were restrictions on how far they could open windows.

The prospect of hotter summers as a result of climate change was on her mind, she said. "You've got to plan ahead and make sure you have all your provisions in place."

Flooding is another major threat identified for Wales, where 245,000 properties are already at risk from more extreme rainfall in winter and rising sea levels along the coast.

A combination of drought and extreme wet weather is expected to make life harder for farmers, impacting food production, while Wales' wildfire seasons are set to last for longer and become more intense.

The situation is set to put additional pressure on emergency services such as fire crews, the report says.

Sion Slaymaker, head of emergency response at Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said climate change was already "having a real impact".

"What we're seeing is that the flooding is more severe, it affects a wider area and demands a greater resource allocation from ourselves. With wildfires, we've seen a significant increase in their duration and intensity," he added.

Gareth Tovey, of the Fire Brigades Union in Wales, said its members were "on the frontline of the climate crisis".

"We're significantly concerned that these incidents are going to push the service past breaking point," he said, calling for more investment.

Shea Buckland-Jones, of WWF Cymru, said the report made clear that Wales' current plans for addressing climate change were "not fit for purpose".

There was "a critical opportunity" for the new Welsh government "to really set the tone in its first 100 days...and prioritise climate and nature action", he said.

Future Generations Commissioner Derek Walker said Wales was not yet adapting to climate change "at the scale and pace required".

"It would be mass negligence if we continue to ignore the need to stormproof while we have the chance," he said.

The CCC's report updates its information and advice from five years ago on how climate change is set to affect the UK.

It is used to inform risk assessments and planning by each nation.

Baroness Brown, chair of the CCC's adaptation committee, said "our lives, our landscapes and our homes are under increasing pressure from the changing climate".

But she insisted the report carried "a message of hope".

"The solutions already exist, and proven technologies are available now to help the UK adapt effectively. With the right decisions and actions, we can protect the people and the places we love," she said.

The Welsh government said the CCC's report "provides clear advice on the risks and opportunities arising from our changing climate and the steps we need to take to adapt".

"We welcome its message that we must be hopeful and realise the benefits of action despite the serious challenges ahead," a spokesperson added.

"We are committed to improving our nation's preparedness for climate impacts and know that by acting now, we can build a fair, climate-resilient future for Wales."