Full Breakdown
UK Drought Emergency Meeting and Agricultural Impact
8/12/2026, 9:20:58 PM
Emergency Meeting on Drought
On Wednesday, August 12, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is scheduled to chair an emergency meeting on the severe heatwaves that have driven almost three-quarters of England into drought, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The gathering follows a National Drought Group meeting on August 10 that highlighted escalating water pressure across the country.
Scope of the Drought
Defra reports that roughly 71 % of England is experiencing a flash drought—a rapid onset of very low rainfall combined with higher temperatures. The agency also notes that July was the driest month in 190 years. Areas now in drought include East Anglia, Hertfordshire, London, Thames Valley, Devon, Cornwall, Wessex, West Midlands, East Midlands, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Kent, East Sussex, the Solent and the South Downs. A further 45 million people live in drought-affected zones, while 27 million are under water-use restrictions.
Government and Agency Responses
Water Minister Emma Hardy told water companies to intensify leak-reduction efforts and pledged to make it easier for farmers to build on-site irrigation reservoirs, adding that nine new reservoirs and water-transfer schemes are planned.
Farming Sector Concerns
The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) and the National Farmers’ Union (National Farmers' Union (NFU)) have pressed the government for faster planning approvals and a more responsive abstraction-licensing system. NFU deputy president Paul Tompkins called for a risk register for vulnerable businesses and continued investment in climate-adaptation measures.
Verbatim Quotes
- “For years, farmers have been watching crops die in the ground because there’s not enough water.” — Gavin Lane, orgs CLA president
