HEARTH

Why this research is needed 

A future with more intense and frequent heatwaves, that often co-occur with other weather extremes (flooding, drought, wildfires, air quality), poses a severe threat to public health. UK Building Regulations currently do not require buildings to address future overheating risks driven by a warming climate.

While Net Zero measures such as improvements in building thermal performance can reduce heating demand, there is risk of summertime overheating if suitable adaptation measures are not incorporated. Vulnerable populations (e.g., persons with chronic conditions and disabilities, older people, pregnant women, preschool children) and those in insecure housing, confined environments or experiencing homelessness all face a heightened risk during hot spells.

The HEARTH team will examine how the transition to net zero emissions can benefit vulnerable populations by improving health outcomes, such as reducing heat-related illnesses and enhancing living conditions during extreme heat events.The research will assess these benefits in various settings including homes, care facilities, hospitals, and prisons, with the aim of developing practical solutions that enhance health outcomes while supporting climate goals.

HEARTH is one of seven new transdisciplinary research hubs exploring ways to ensure the UK’s transition to net zero also protects and promotes physical and mental health.

Objectives of the hub are to: 

1. Produce new high-resolution weather and climate scenarios to assess extreme heat events and co-occurring hazards considering a range of climate mitigation pathways including net zero futures 
2. Quantify heat exposure variations for outdoor environments (city to neighbourhood scales) to understand local climate and buildings interactions, and urban heat reduction measures effects
3. Empirically measure physical and mental health impacts and inequalities arising from indoor heat exposure in high-risk groups residing in homes, multi-functional residential environments, and healthcare settings
4. Assess health and equity impacts of existing climate change mitigation/adaptation measures and develop an evaluation framework to inform local and national heat prevention policies
5. Quantify the impacts of new climate change adaptation/mitigation solutions in homes, care settings, hospitals and prisons for WS1 warming levels and with a focus on extreme heat episodes.

Using behavioural science to address extreme heat

Assessment of existing climate change mitigation/adaptation measures (objective 4) will involve contributing to the development of a Theory of Change through literature reviews and stakeholder engagement, and understanding barriers/enablers to implementation, using behavioural science theory and frameworks and the APEASE criteria.
Quantifying impacts of new climate change adaptation/mitigation solutions (objective 5) will involve contributing to the development and evaluation of interventions for a range of settings, using the COM-B model and the Behaviour Change Wheel, as well as the quantification of co-benefits and trade-offs using the APEASE criteria. 

Working in partnership 

The HEARTH team will work closely with a number of project partners from:

• National Government: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Health and Safety Executive, Met Office, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Ministry of Justice, Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Public Health Wales
• Public sector: Bradford Metropolitan District Council, Edinburgh City Council, Leeds City Council, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford University Hospitals, Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust
• Private sector: Arup, AtkinsRealis, CIBSE, Kensa Contracting, Max Fordham Engineering, Pollard Thomas Edwards Architects, Saint Gobain
• Third sector: Climate Northern Ireland, Edinburgh Climate Change Institute, Energy Saving Trust, European Federation of National Organisations working with the Homeless, Good Homes Alliance, Healthy Homes Hub, Housing LIN, London Climate Change Partnership, National Energy Foundation, National Retrofit Hub, Sustainable Scotland Network, Woodknowledge Wales

HEARTH will also host leading international visiting researchers from the USA, Australia, Netherlands, and India.