The UK summer heatwave of 2018 and public concern over energy security

Shaun Larcom (), Po-Wen She and Terry Gevelt
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Shaun Larcom: University of Cambridge
Po-Wen She: University of Cambridge
Terry Gevelt: University of Hong Kong

Nature Climate Change, 2019, vol. 9, issue 5, 370-373

Abstract: Abstract The UK summer heatwave of 2018 led to changes in consumer behaviour, including large increases in electricity demand due to increased use and intensity of refrigeration and air-conditioning devices1,2. Although the United Kingdom experienced its equal hottest summer on record, the extreme temperatures were concentrated in the south and east of England3. Here we exploit the regional variation to test for the effect of experiencing extreme temperatures on perceptions of resource security and on related pro-environmental behaviour. We analyse data from 2,189 individuals across the UK over a 7 day period and use a difference-in-differences estimation to compare responses of individuals in regions subjected to extreme temperatures with those of individuals in regions that were not subjected to extreme temperatures4. We show that exposure to extreme temperatures had a large and statistically significant effect on perceptions of energy security but not on stated pro-environmental behaviour. We find less evidence that extreme temperatures had an effect on perceptions of food and water security.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41558-019-0460-6

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