Two publications this week highlight the impact of climate change on water use and health.

First, an article in the Los Angeles Times highlights the challenges of introducing new water-saving rules in California adopts – Los Angeles Times.

The State Water Resources Control Board has adopted regulations that will require suppliers in cities and towns to meet individualized water-use targets and conservation goals over the next 15 years, but there is concern over lack of urgency.

Here, research from Friends of the Earth shows that six million people are at risk from extreme heat in England, with older people and young children most at risk in heat-vulnerable neighbourhoods.

Key findings include:

• Even if the world stays on track to meet the global goal to limit warming to 1.5°C, more than 3,000 of the most vulnerable neighbourhoods – more than six million people – will regularly be exposed to ‘very hot weather’ of 27.5°C for five or more days during the summer months. If temperatures rise to 3°C, then the same areas will be regularly exposed to dangerously hot temperatures of over 30°C.
• Overall, nearly half (48%) of neighbourhoods – or 28 million people – in England will be exposed to ‘very hot weather’ at 1.5°C of warming. This increases significantly if global temperatures rise by 2°C and 3°C to affect 60% (34 million people) and 81% (46 million people) of neighbourhoods, respectively.
• Global temperature rise of 3°C would put 50% of neighbourhoods – or 30 million people – at risk of ‘dangerously hot weather’ where temperatures hit 30°C or more for five or more days during summer.

Friends of the Earth is calling for the 3,000 most vulnerable neighbourhoods to be prioritised for publicly-funded adaptation projects and greater efforts to reduce planet-heating greenhouse gases.

This research was covered in the Guardian.