--- title: "UK health secretary links heat waves to climate change as England records driest July" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/climate/uk-health-secretary-links-heat-waves-to-climate-change-as-england-records-driest" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/uk-health-secretary-links-heat-waves-to-climate-change-as-england-records-driest" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/climate/uk-health-secretary-links-heat-waves-to-climate-change-as-england-records-driest.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/uk-health-secretary-links-heat-waves-to-climate-change-as-england-records-driest" category: "Climate" area: "United Kingdom" published: "2026-08-04T20:46:17.471Z" source_reported: "2026-08-03T19:09:24.670Z" updated: "2026-08-04T20:46:17.471Z" trust_score: 30 critic_score: 45 hype_score: 25 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" --- # UK health secretary links heat waves to climate change as England records driest July *Yvette Cooper calls for international cooperation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions amid rising temperatures* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 30 of 100, higher is better. Only one outlet, no named sources or documents cited. - Craft 45 of 100, higher is better. No context or affected voices quoted. - Hype 25 of 100, lower is better. Headline overstates certainty of claim. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - UK Health Secretary Yvette Cooper attributed worsening heat waves to climate change, as reported by Anadolu Ajansı. - England and Wales recorded their driest July on record, with temperatures forecast to reach 35C (95F). - Cooper called for international cooperation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate the shift to renewable energy. - Debate over fossil fuel production in the UK, including North Sea drilling, was renewed following her remarks. The UK health secretary said on 29 July 2026 that climate change is contributing to increasingly severe heat waves in the UK and globally. Yvette Cooper made the remarks as England and Wales recorded their driest July since records began. Temperatures were forecast to reach 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) that day, prompting health authorities to issue alerts across much of the country. Cooper told broadcasters that governments must address both the immediate effects of climate change and the long-term challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. She said the UK should continue working with other countries to accelerate the transition to cleaner energy. The comments came amid renewed debate over the future of fossil fuel production in the UK, including potential expansion of oil and gas drilling in the North Sea. When asked whether tackling climate change would mean ruling out further drilling, Cooper said the government faced the challenge of balancing energy security, affordability and climate commitments. She did not directly answer whether new drilling would be permitted. Anadolu Ajansı reported that British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is said to support a different approach to fossil fuel production. ## What the coverage left out No left- or centre-rated outlet ran this story at all. None of the reports below mention whether Cooper specified which countries the UK should collaborate with on climate action, or what policies she proposed to accelerate the transition to renewable energy. The cost of such a transition, or any funding commitments, were also not addressed in the Anadolu Ajansı report. **Coverage watch:** unwatched. Checked 0 times; 0 checks found a material change. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre No separate framing summary. ### Right - Anadolu Ajansı led its report with Cooper’s statement that there is “no doubt” climate change is contributing to worsening heat waves. The outlet included her call for international cooperation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and her remarks on the need to balance energy security with climate commitments. It also noted the debate over North Sea drilling and reported that Prime Minister Andy Burnham is said to support a different approach to fossil fuel production. - The report quoted Cooper directly on the impact of climate change and the need for collective action. It included her statement that the UK must work internationally to shift to renewable energy. Anadolu Ajansı also reported the record dry July in England and Wales and the health alerts issued as temperatures rose. ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Anadolu Ajansı](https://aa.com.tr/en/world/-no-doubt-climate-change-is-behind-worsening-heat-waves-says-uk-health-secretary/4017454) — ‘No doubt’ climate change is behind worsening heat waves, says UK health secretary - [Misyjne.pl](https://misyjne.pl/najsuchszy-lipiec-w-historii-pomiarow-w-anglii-i-walii) — Driest July on Record in England and Wales [ - [Le Monde](https://lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2026/08/03/england-wales-had-driest-july-on-record_6756117_4.html) — England and Wales had driest July on record, according to provisional figures ## Questions **What did the UK health secretary say about climate change?** Yvette Cooper said there is 'no doubt' climate change is contributing to worsening heat waves in the UK and globally. She called for international cooperation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate the transition to renewable energy, as reported by Anadolu Ajansı. **How hot did temperatures get during the UK heat wave?** Temperatures were forecast to reach 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) on 29 July 2026, prompting health authorities to issue alerts across much of the UK. Anadolu Ajansı reported this alongside the record dry July in England and Wales. **Did the UK health secretary rule out new North Sea drilling?** Yvette Cooper did not directly answer whether new drilling would be ruled out. She said the government must balance energy security, affordability and climate commitments, as reported by Anadolu Ajansı. The outlet noted debate over fossil fuel production, including Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s reported support for a different approach. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/climate/uk-health-secretary-links-heat-waves-to-climate-change-as-england-records-driest. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "UK health secretary links heat waves to climate change as England records driest July", https://mediabias.news/climate/uk-health-secretary-links-heat-waves-to-climate-change-as-england-records-driest