Swathes of Europe are bracing for extreme temperatures this week as red heat alerts are issued across the continent, with forecasts of 40°C in parts of Spain, France, and Italy. The UK, while not facing the same intensity, has seen its heatwave plan praised as a global benchmark for protecting workers and vulnerable communities.
The Met Office has issued amber warnings for much of southern England, with temperatures expected to reach 32°C in London by Thursday. But Britain’s approach to heatwave management is drawing international attention for its focus on the “Real Economy” – the people who cannot afford to stay home with the blinds drawn.
“The UK’s plan is a gold standard because it doesn’t just tell people to drink water,” said Dr. Elena Rossi, a climate policy analyst at the London School of Economics. “It mandates cool spaces, welfare checks on isolated workers, and specific guidance for outdoor labour. That’s what matters when you’re earning minimum wage and your ice cream van or building site doesn’t stop for the sun.”
The UK Health Security Agency’s heatwave plan includes working with local authorities to open cooling centres, ensuring hospitals have surge capacity, and issuing “heat-related work advice” for sectors like construction and agriculture. Critics often point to a lack of legal protections – unlike some countries, there is no maximum workplace temperature law. But the guidance is seen as pragmatic and responsive.
“A legal limit sounds good, but you have to enforce it,” said Paul Jackson, a regional officer for Unite the Union. “What we need is real enforcement of rest breaks, shade, and adequate water. The NHS can’t afford more A&E visits from overheated deliveries drivers.” Jackson’s members include warehouse and logistics staff, where temperatures can soar in non-air-conditioned facilities.
The European alerts come as climate scientists warn that such extreme heat events are becoming more frequent. In Italy, red alerts cover 16 cities, including Rome and Florence, with tourists and vulnerable elderly people at particular risk. Spain’s state weather agency has warned of “extreme risk” in the southern region of Andalusia. In France, over 40 departments are on orange alert, with authorities setting up special “fresh rooms” in public buildings.
For many workers, the heat is not just uncomfortable but economically punishing. “I’m a cleaner in a school that’s closed for summer, but I still have to come in for deep cleaning,” said Marie Dupont, a contract cleaner in Paris on a red-alert day. “We have no air conditioning, and if I stop, I don’t get paid. The UK’s plan sounds like something that would actually check on us.”
Back in Britain, the government’s heatwave plan is currently being reviewed by the Climate Change Committee, which called it “exemplary” in its last report but urged more mandatory measures. The plan’s success lies in its collaborative approach, bringing together the Met Office, NHS, local councils, and employers’ groups.
“The gold standard is about more than weather warnings,” said health secretary Wes Streeting in a statement. “It’s about protecting those who keep our country running, from bus drivers to postal workers. We cannot afford to have a two-tier response where the rich stay cool and the rest cook.”
As the mercury rises, the question remains whether other nations will adopt similar models. For now, Britons are being urged to check on neighbours, stay hydrated, and avoid the sun between 11am and 3pm. But for those in the heat of the Real Economy, that advice comes with a price tag.
“It’s all well and good telling people to stay inside,” said Jackson. “But if you’re on piece work or a zero-hours contract, staying inside means earning nothing. That’s why we need solidarity and practical help, not just a forecast.”
