Most UK media reports on the record-breaking June heatwave failed to mention the climate crisis, according to an analysis by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU). Nearly 2,500 articles about the extreme heat, when temperatures topped 37°C—a record for the time of year—appeared in the UK’s nine main national daily publications. However, almost three-quarters, or about 72%, omitted any reference to global heating or climate change.
Low mention of net zero in heatwave coverage
Even fewer articles linked the heatwave to government policies aimed at tackling the climate crisis. Less than one in 20 heatwave stories mentioned “net zero,” the target for balancing emissions with removals. June’s heatwave was the second of the year, following a May hot spell that reached 35°C, smashing the previous monthly record. A third heatwave hit last week and is expected to continue.
Attribution study confirms human role
Research published by Imperial College London estimated that about 2,700 people died from overheating in the UK in May and June, with approximately 1,100 of those deaths attributable to the additional heat caused by climate change. Scientists warned that human actions—burning fossil fuels and intensifying agriculture—have supercharged the hot weather. An attribution study found the extreme weather would not have been possible without human interference in the climate system.
Ed Hawkins, professor of climate science at the University of Reading, stressed the need for better media explanation. “When extreme heatwaves occur, it is critical that the British public are made aware in the media they consume that greenhouse gas emissions, primarily from burning fossil fuels, have made those heatwaves hotter than they would otherwise have been,” he said.
Methodology: tracking climate mentions in nine newspapers
The ECIU used the Factiva database to analyze print and online articles from 22 June to 28 June across nine publications: the Express, Financial Times, Guardian, Independent, Mail, Mirror, Sun, Telegraph, and Times. The study tracked how many articles containing “extreme heat” or “heatwave” also referenced “climate change,” “climate,” or “global warming,” and how many mentioned “net zero.”
Variation across outlets
The Financial Times scored highest, with nearly two-thirds of its 78 heatwave stories linking to climate change. The Guardian followed, with roughly half of its 131 heat-related articles making the connection. The Independent published the most heatwave stories—783—of which 304 (about 39%) mentioned the climate. The Mail had over 300 stories, with about a fifth referencing global heating, while the Express had about one in eight of its 400-plus stories. The Mirror had over 300 heatwave articles but only 9% mentioned climate. The Sun ranked lowest, with 69 heatwave stories and only 6% including a climate angle.
When liveblogs were excluded, the proportions remained similar, except for the Independent, which dropped to about 34%.
Calls for better public understanding
Gareth Redmond-King, head of international at the ECIU, said: “The link between all three recent periods of extreme heat and climate change is indisputable.” He added: “If recent heatwaves are the symptom, then climate change is the illness, and net zero is the medicine. When public understanding of this link is so low, it’s vital that the dots are joined between these three concepts to help make us all better.”
A Guardian spokesperson noted: “The Guardian leads the way in reporting on the link between extreme weather events and the climate crisis, with our coverage presenting global heating as an urgent, factual reality. Clear, accurate journalism is essential to helping the public understand the climate crisis and the solutions required. Already in 2026, the Guardian has published hundreds of articles mentioning the ‘climate crisis’ or ‘climate emergency.’ In 2019, we helped reframe newsroom priorities across the industry by updating our style guide to adopt terms like ‘climate emergency’ and ‘global heating.’ Our editorial commitment also drives our choices as a business: we were the first major global news organisation to ban fossil-fuel advertising, divest from fossil fuels, and achieve B Corp certification as we work toward our goal of net-zero emissions.”
The other publications were approached for comment.
