{"id":419835,"date":"2026-01-04T17:47:50","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T16:47:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=419835"},"modified":"2026-01-04T19:26:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T18:26:09","slug":"richard-betts-fake-heatwave-deaths-claim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=419835","title":{"rendered":"Richard Betts Fake Heatwave Deaths\u00a0Claim"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Richard Betts, a prominent UK climate scientist (Head of Climate Impacts Research at the Met Office and Professor at the University of Exeter), appeared on Channel 4 News in early January 2026 discussing the UK’s “hottest year” claims. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the segment, he reportedly referenced heat-related impacts, including an estimated 1,500 deaths linked to heatwaves.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The post accuses Betts of exaggerating or fabricating the 1,500 deaths figure, arguing that UK mortality data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows deaths actually decline in summer months compared to winter, with no visible spike corresponding to recent heatwaves. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It presents charts of weekly deaths and temperatures to support this, concluding that “heat does not kill, cold does,” and calls the claim “immoral and dishonest.”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Graph<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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One really needs to know

that when talking about impacts of rising temps on deaths

heat and cold matters

but \u2014 because of expanding adaptation \u2014 floods, droughts, storms, wildfire and extreme temps increasingly don'thttps:\/\/t.co\/oddGstTeAR<\/a>, https:\/\/t.co\/7EM5OqxmDx<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/zdZ7ZLxwIH<\/a><\/p>— Bjorn Lomborg (@BjornLomborg) April 13, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote>