Climate resilience increasingly important to British business
The latest Business Prosperity Index from Barclays highlights the growing importance of climate adaptation for UK businesses. The most recent Q2 report reveals that almost two-thirds (60%) have increased investment, or are considering doing so, to adapt to extreme heat.
Drawing on anonymised client data from around 900,000 UK businesses, the research also collected survey insights from 1,000 senior business decision makers, with data representative across sectors and regions of the United Kingdom.
The research found that almost one in four businesses (37%) have increased investment to adapt to extreme heat, while a further 23% are considering doing so. The most common investment priorities include cooling and ventilation systems (28%) and energy efficiency measures (23%). At the same time, businesses are also changing their ways of working during periods of hot weather. Just under a third of companies (28%) said that they are introducing employee wellbeing measures such as additional breaks, while a further 23% said they are offering flexible or remote working, and 21% claimed that they are adjusting working hours.
The research also suggests that rising temperatures are having broader economic impacts, with consumer spend data showing how changing weather patterns are influencing consumer behaviour, purchasing decisions and customer expectations. UK adults identified 24.6°C as their ideal summer temperature, 13.1°C lower than 2026's record high, while consumers said 25.1°C is the maximum temperature they would be comfortable shopping in. Barclays argues that for businesses, these findings highlight the importance of considering how changing customer behaviours, workplace environments and operational requirements may shape future investment decisions.
Climate resilience extends beyond the workplace
Recent research from Citizens Advice also highlights the wider societal impact of rising temperatures. The charity found that 44% of British adults lack the basic control needed to stop their homes overheating, while almost nine million people reported taking drastic measures to cope with extreme heat. Citizens Advice argues that overheating should now be treated as a year-round housing policy issue, calling for measures such as improved insulation, ventilation and shading to help make homes safer during increasingly frequent heatwaves.[i]
Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said:
“For far too many people, a summer heatwave doesn't mean enjoying the sun, it means being trapped in a sweltering home with no control over the temperature. We’re now facing a year-round crisis, where poorly designed housing stock is acting as a giant heat trap in summer and as an ice box in winter.”[ii]
As a result, Citizens Advice is calling for government policy to explicitly address overheating through measures such as improved insulation, ventilation, shading, window design and heat network upgrades.
“The government has a vital opportunity to help fix this through the Warm Homes Plan. By investing in better insulation, ventilation, and heat network upgrades, we can ensure people's homes are warmer in the winter and safer and cooler in the summer.”[iii] Dame Moriarty added.
References
[iii] Ibid
