This week, temperatures of 40C (104F) have been predicted by the Met Office for the first time, but climate models show that these weather events are expected to become more common. Climate scientists have called on the UK to adapt quickly to extreme heat or risk thousands of excess deaths. This includes the government drawing up a specific heat risk strategy, updating the housing stock and ensuring new builds can cool in hot weather. Bob Ward, director of policy and communications at the LSE’s Grantham Institute, said: “The current Prime Minister has ignored repeated calls to create a national heat risk strategy that would involve all relevant government departments in tackling the growing heatwave threat.” . He hit out at commentators and MPs who said those who fear heat waves are “snowflakes”. Sir John Hayes, the chairman of Conservative MPs’ Common Sense Group, said at the weekend that the heat warnings were evidence of a ‘brave new world’, adding: ‘No wonder snowflakes are melting in snowy Britain. Fortunately, most of us are not snowflakes.” Ward replied: “In the UK media in recent days, some have claimed that the increasing attention paid to heatwave risks is a sign of declining British resilience. But such displays of insensitivity to hundreds of avoidable deaths only underscore the challenge we face in dealing with the growing risks of climate change. “It’s time the UK stopped thinking of itself as just a cold country, where every summer sunshine is celebrated as an opportunity for beach visits and ice creams. Heat waves are deadly extreme weather events that will worsen for at least the next 30 years. We need to adapt and do a better job of protecting ourselves, especially those most vulnerable to the heat.” Scientists urged governments to work quickly to phase out fossil fuels and reach net zero emissions to stop the situation becoming more deadly. Dr Friederike Otto, senior lecturer in climate science at the Grantham Institute, said: “Climate change is driving this heat wave, just as it is driving every heat wave now. Greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and oil make heat waves hotter, longer and more frequent. Heatwaves that used to be rare are now commonplace. Heatwaves that were once impossible are now happening and killing people. “Heat will continue to worsen until greenhouse gas emissions are stopped. The longer it takes the world to reach net zero emissions, the hotter and more dangerous heatwaves will become, and the more common and long-lasting they will be. The only way to stop heat records being broken again and again is to stop burning fossil fuels as quickly as possible.” Dr Eunice Lo, a climatologist at the University of Bristol’s Cabot Institute for the Environment, said: “The climate has warmed significantly since 1976. We have a record that goes back to 1984 and the 10 hottest days have occurred since 2002. “Previously unimaginable temperatures are now happening. This has never happened before. it is unprecedented. There is no comparison to 1976 – that record has already been broken in 2019. There is a good chance it will be broken again in the next couple of days. By definition these are new extremes.” Forecasters gave the news of the heat wave with dismay. “We were hoping we wouldn’t get to this situation, but for the first time we’re forecasting over 40C in the UK,” said Dr Nikos Christidis, climate scientist at the Met Office. Subscribe to First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7am. BST He added: “Climate change has already affected the likelihood of extreme temperatures in the UK. The chances of seeing 40 C days in the UK could be up to 10 times more likely in the current climate than in a natural climate unaffected by human influence. The probability of exceeding 40C anywhere in the UK in any given year is also increasing rapidly and, even with current commitments to reduce emissions, such extremes could occur every 15 years in the 2100 climate.” It looks like the threat of extreme heat won’t go away this week. Professor Hannah Cloke, a natural hazards researcher at the University of Reading, said: “From what I understand, we’re hoping to see temperatures drop again in a few days, but there’s a risk that temperatures will rise again in a week or so. which is very worrying for the UK and Europe. “There is a strong risk of further heatwaves around the world for the rest of the summer and we will be watching this very carefully.”
