Latest news with #StateoftheUKClimate
5 days ago
- Climate
Can we reclaim the narrative in a world abandoning climate protection?
Headlines Latest News Podcasts (new window) Home Environment Climate Change The Kongsfjorden fjord in Arctic Norway where warming waters are fueling the growth of seaweed forests.' Photo: afp via getty images / Dominique Faget Irene Quaile (new window) · The Ice Blog/Eye on the Arctic (new window) I am not one to complain about the weather. I love a sunny summer afternoon, get a buzz from a wild, wet, windy day, relish an icy tramp through the snow… but all in the right place , at the right time . I grew up in Scotland, used to changeable weather; my work as a journalist has taken me to the coldest parts of the planet, and to some of the hottest, from the Arctic ice to the deserts of Africa and Australia. We have our expectations of what the climate should be like in different places, and prepare accordingly. But like so many Europeans this summer, I have been taken aback as temperatures even in this part of Germany peaked at 40C. Yes, unheard of in this region of the world, and early in the summer season. — Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) (@ 1 juillet 2025 à 08:04 Fin du widget . Retour au début du widget? The EU climate monitoring service Copernicus confirmed (new window) Western Europe as a whole saw its warmest June on record, with an average temperature of 20.49°C. Two major heatwaves led to 'very strong heat stress' in large parts of western and southern Europe, with 'extreme heat stress' and 'feels-like temperatures' reaching 48°C in parts of Portugal. Spain experienced its warmest June in 64 years. And even northernmost Europe (new window) sweltered under a heat dome . The good old British summer ? Even my native UK, usually famous – or notorious – for its cool, wet, windy weather has experienced a series of extreme heatwaves. England reported the highest temperatures for June since data records began in 1884. The Glasgow region of Scotland, where I grew up, has been threatened by wildfires. But we've always had floods and storms, and 1974 was a hot summer … ? No. The recently published State of the UK Climate (new window) report confirms this is not just a temporary blip, a natural variation: Observations show that our climate in the UK is now notably different to what it was just a few decades ago. We are now seeing records being broken very frequently as we see temperature and rainfall extremes being the most affected by our changing climate , said Met Office climate scientist and lead author Mike Kendon: Every year that goes by is another upward step on the warming trajectory our climate is on. Chief Executive of the Royal Meteorological Society, Professor Liz Bentley, stresses the report, based on robust observational science, documents changes in temperature, rainfall, sea level, and weather extremes that are affecting lives, infrastructure, and ecosystems across the UK . The growing impact of extremes is possibly the most striking element of the observations: While long-term averages are shifting, it is the extreme heat, intense rainfall and droughts that are having the most immediate and dramatic effects on people and nature. And this is happening across the globe. No respite for icy regions A look at the icy regions of the planet confirms that even the bastions of cold are increasingly struggling to cope with our human-induced planetary heating. The Earth's polar refrigerators and life-supporting mountain glaciers are under pressure. A range of studies published in the last few months and continuous observation provide some chilling insights into the warming cryosphere. On June 23rd, the Arctic sea ice was the lowest on record: A study published in Nature Climate Change on July 9 (new window) shows that the Arctic Ocean is losing oxygen six times faster than the global average. Warmer Atlantic water is flowing in, speeding up deoxygenation and putting marine life at risk. Climate warming, which is even faster at high northern latitudes due to polar amplification is increasing the vulnerability of these ecosystems to fire (new window) , with potentially severe implications for the global climate. When peatlands ignite, they release massive amounts of fossil carbon that have been locked away for centuries or even millennia. Canadian wildfire smoke deposits black carbon on Arctic ice sheets, which experts say may have more of a warming effect than thought earlier: Warmer water, toxic blooms Findings (new window) published in the journal Nature on July 7 showed that warming Arctic conditions resulting from climate change are increasing the prevalence and concentration of toxic algae in the ocean (new window) . These conditions include shrinking sea ice, expanding tracts of open water and more sunlight penetrating the ocean's depths. Bowhead whales are ingesting toxins driven by warming in Arctic. We have a direct relationship between higher toxin concentrations and warmer ocean conditions, said Kathi Lefebvre, the paper's lead author and a research biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Seattle. Enlarge image (new window) The Kaskawulsh Glacier in the Yukon's St. Elias Mountains region. The glacier is retreating due to climate change. The retreat caused meltwater that normally fed the Slim's River to start flowing in a different direction in 2016, reducing the river to the size of little more than a stream in a matter of days. Photo: CBC / Susan Ormiston Antarctic changes, global impacts Since 2015, the frozen continent of Antarctica has lost an area of sea ice similar to the size of Greenland (new window) . That ice hasn't returned, which some experts say marks the largest global environmental change during the past decade. A team from the University of Southampton, the Barcelona Expert Centre and the European Space Agency warned in June (new window) that the Antarctic sea ice may be in terminal decline because of the unexpected satellite finding that the water there is becoming saltier: Losing Antarctic sea ice is a planetary problem , the team stress. 'Sea ice acts like a giant mirror reflecting sunlight back into space. Without it, more energy stays in the Earth system, speeding up global warming, intensifying storms and driving sea level rise (new window) in coastal cities worldwide.' Recent research published in AGU Advances (new window) indicates Earth is trapping much more heat than climate models forecast – and the rate has doubled in 20 years. A study published in Science Daily on July 8 (new window) suggests that as glaciers melt around the world, long-dormant volcanoes may be waking up beneath the ice. New research reveals that massive ice sheets have suppressed eruptions for thousands of years, building up underground pressure. But as that icy weight disappears, it may trigger a wave of explosive eruptions—especially in places like Antarctica. This unexpected volcanic threat not only poses regional risks but could also accelerate climate change in a dangerous feedback loop . The 1.5C target: too high for ice and sliding out of reach A recent study (new window) led by Professor Chris Stokes of Durham University indicates efforts to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5°C, as agreed in the Paris Climate Agreement 10 years ago, may not go far enough to save the world's ice sheets. The research suggests the target should instead be closer to 1°C to avoid significant losses from the polar ice sheets and prevent a further acceleration in sea level rise. Alas, the latest assessment of the state of global warming (new window) suggests that the Earth could break through the symbolic 1.5C warming limit in as little as three years, if carbon dioxide emissions continue at current levels. More than 60 of the world's leading climate scientists were involved in the study, including Professor Joeri Rogelj, Research Director at the Grantham Institute and Climate Science & Policy Professor at the Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial College London: The window to stay within 1.5°C is rapidly closing , says Rogelj. Global warming is already affecting the lives of billions of people around the world. Every small increase in warming matters, leading to more frequent, more intense weather extremes. Emissions over the next decade will determine how soon and how fast 1.5°C of warming is reached. They need to be swiftly reduced to meet the climate goals of the Paris Agreement. The big disconnect So what are we waiting for? Whether you look at science publications or the news reports of weather extremes and disasters across the globe, there can be no doubt that climate warming is already playing havoc with our livelihoods and lifestyles. At the same time the willingness to do something about it appears to be decreasing. That applies both to individuals and to policy makers. There is a huge gap (new window) between the threat we face from climate change and taking any action to respond. Newspaper coverage of climate change around the globe dropped 6% from May to June 2025 — and by 28% compared to June 2024, despite increasing frequency and severity of climate-fueled extreme weather events. A study (new window) using data from around the world, suggests that exposure to extreme weather events alone does not affect people's view of climate action. The connection between climate change and natural disasters – and the link to our behaviour, consumption, fossil fuel burning – doesn't seem to be happening. Many stories about disasters linked to climate change fail to mention the link (new window) , or indeed mention climate change at all. Making these connections clearer (new window) could encourage stronger public support for climate action. Information battles There is a small window of opportunity between 2025 and 2050 to avert a looming climate catastrophe for humanity and biodiversity. Accurate and actionable climate information is a necessary part of responding to and solving the climate crisis, write the authors of the review in The Conversation . Instead, there seems to be a widespread, highly influential campaign to play down the climate crisis. ' Can you trust climate information? How and why powerful players are misleading the public ' was the title of an article in The Conversation (new window) on July 8: 'Our study (new window) found that the human response to the climate crisis is being obstructed and delayed by the production and circulation of misleading information,' the authors write. We found that this is being done by powerful economic and political interests, such as fossil fuel companies, populist political parties, and some nation states . The Trump administration in the USA is turning back the clock: prolonging the fossil fuel era, negating decades of science and experience, and getting rid of climate expertise and data monitoring. The German case Here in Germany, much of life came to a standstill when the temperature reached 39C. People felt paralyzed by the heat. The country recently marked the fourth anniversary of an unprecedented flood disaster that killed 135 people, shocking this wealthy industrialised country. Still, the willingness to admit we humans had something to do with all this – and that we could and must do something about it – is not keeping pace with worries about the cost of living or maintaining the high standard of lifestyle we take for granted. At the last election people voted out the Greens party in the government, that was pushing the energy transition and climate action. A rightwing narrative talking down climate change and branding green policies as elitist and expensive prevailed over the realisation that cheap petrol and gas heating now will have long-term costs far beyond what we can afford. It seems to be easier to put on blinkers and carry on regardless. The pendulum is swinging way out in the direction of global- warming- inducing behaviour and policy, an extension of the fossil fuel economy. How long will it take to swing in the other direction, towards a low-carbon world? And what will have happened on and to our planet in the meantime? The focus is understandably shifting to adaptation. Sure, we have to build up resilience and prepare for worse to come. But we can't afford to let that divert attention from reducing emissions and making the lifestyle changes that will protect us against even more extreme climate conditions in the very near future. As I write this, Iran is battling temperatures over 50C (new window) and acute water shortage. Half the population of the small island state of Tuvalu have applied to move to Australia (new window) , as their island home slips beneath the waves. As a journalist focusing on environment and climate, I find myself under pressure to produce a positive narrative . But on the wider scheme of things, 10 years after the signing of the Paris Agreement, with things moving backwards and emissions still on the rise, I have to admit, I am struggling. Irene Quaile (new window) · The Ice Blog/Eye on the Arctic (new window) 'Canada could be one where there's just a tariff,' says U.S. president, with his Aug. 1 deadline looming 2 hours ago Trade Agreements Permits for Sean Feucht shows on public land in some Canadian cities have been pulled 2 hours ago Rights & Freedoms Study finds rate of liver disease has more than doubled over the last 20 years 5 hours ago Medical Research As the climate warms, Canadians will be faced with more heat waves, but having access to AC isn't equitable. Judge tells packed London, Ont., court that complainant E.M.'s story not credible or reliable 6 hours ago Trials & Proceedings
Japan Today
18-07-2025
- Climate
- Japan Today
New UK weather records being set 'very frequently': report
The report found that last year was the UK's fourth warmest since 1884 Extremes in temperature and rainfall in the UK are becoming increasingly frequent, the nation's meteorological service said in a report on Britain's changing climate. England and Wales endured the wettest winter in 250 years in from from October 2023 to March 2024, with six of the 10 wettest winters occurring in the 21st century. The report also found that last year was the UK's fourth warmest since 1884 with the last three years all in the top five warmest on record. Records were now being broken "very frequently", said Mike Kendon, Met Office climate scientist and lead author of the Met Office's State of the UK Climate report. "It's the extremes of temperature and rainfall that is changing the most, and that's of profound concern, and that's going to continue in the future," he said. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the findings showed Britain's way of life was "under threat". "Whether it is extreme heat, droughts, flooding, we can see it actually with our own eyes, that it's already happening, and we need to act," he said. In 2024, experts recorded the warmest spring, the second warmest February and the fifth warmest winter on record. Rising sea levels surrounding the UK were speeding up, with two-thirds of the rise recorded since 1900 taking place in the last 30 years, the report said. "Every year that goes by is another upward step on the warming trajectory our climate is on," Kendon said. "Observations show that our climate in the UK is now notably different to what it was just a few decades ago," he added. Changes to the seasons were evident, according to a volunteer-fed database drawn upon by the Met Office researchers. Out of 13 spring events monitored in 2024, 12 occurred earlier than average. The report reinforced the "clear and urgent signals of our changing climate", added Liz Bentley, chief executive of the Royal Meteorological Society. The research, however, did not find any evidence that the UK's climate was becoming more windy or stormy. Last month, a group of experts tasked with advising the government said the UK had cut its carbon emissions by 50.4 percent since 1990 levels. Much of the drop in emissions of planet-heating greenhouse gases -- blamed for triggering climate change -- was due to the closure of the UK's coal-fired power generation plants, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) said in its report to parliament. The progress could largely be attributed to the policies of the previous Conservative government, the report said, while crediting the new government of Labour Prime Minister Keir with "bold policy decisions this year". Starmer, elected just over a year ago, has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 81 percent on 1990 levels by 2035, strengthening the UK government's ambitions to help curb climate change. © 2025 AFP
Daily Mirror
17-07-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
UK heatwaves could cause more than 5,000 deaths this summer as temperatures soar
The Centre for Ageing Better says it is extremely concerned about the significant heat health risk to older people this summer and the increasingly hotter summers of the future. This summer could see more than 5,000 deaths due to excess heat as temperatures look likely to exceed one of the deadliest heatwave years on record, experts are warning. The Office for National Statistics estimates that the hot weather of 2022 was a factor in more than 4,500 heat-related deaths. Predictions suggest that this summer could be even warmer. The UK Health Security Agency issued three heat health alerts in June this year compared to just one alert, issued to a smaller area of the country, in June 2022. So far, this summer has also seen higher average temperatures than in the same period in 2022. READ MORE: Why heatwaves are now hotter, more frequent and just a taste of what's to come Data from the Met Office shows that the average maximum daily temperature in England in June 2025 was 21.9C, compared to 20C in June 2022. The average maximum daily temperatures for May 2025 were also 1.2C higher than in May 2022. And the number of extremely hot days this year is also higher with 12 days exceeding 28C in England in 2025 to the end of June, compared to just six days exceeding 28C by the end of June in 2022. This is significant because research has shown that death rates increase more rapidly as temperatures rise above 27 degrees. The Centre for Ageing Better says it is extremely concerned about the significant heat health risk to older people and warns that the poor-quality of the nation's homes is a significant factor in this heightened risk – for this summer and the increasingly hotter summers of the future. Deputy director of the organisation, Millie Brown said: 'The heatwave we have just experienced is unfortunately just a taste of what could become the norm in the not-too-distant future, as the State of the UK Climate report makes clear this week. Unfortunately, this country is not built for such temperatures, and especially not our poor-quality housing stock. 'Current estimates indicate that the average number of heat-related deaths in this country could triple to 7,000 every year by the 2050s. This is an appalling scenario, and one that we should be doing all we can to avoid.' People aged 65 and above could likely constitute around four in five of heat-related excess deaths based on recent studies. Britain has the poorest insulated housing stock in Europe, which not only means homes lose heat quicker in winter but they are also very poor at keeping the heat out in summer. In 30C heat, the temperature within a UK home will rise by five degrees within three hours - double the rate of heat gain in other parts of Europe. Data shows that an ageing population living in ageing housing stock are at heightened risk from increasingly hot summers. Around three million people aged 65 and above in the UK are among the greatest at risk of becoming ill because they are living in properties between 45 and 80 years old. Millie Brown added: "This is an appalling scenario, and one that we should be doing all we can to avoid. 'Too many people are living in poor-quality homes that put their health, and lives, at risk in extreme temperatures, whether that be in the height of summer or the depths of winter. When building new homes or retrofitting existing homes, we need to consider how to keep homes cool in summer, as well as warm in winter. People also need access to information and advice if there are issues with overheating in their homes. 'This change in our nation's climate is already set in motion. But we can mitigate some of the worst of its impact by building better quality homes that offer people shelter from extreme weather while also giving people better support to improving the state of their homes. The government should be including how to tackle both these challenges in its forthcoming housing strategy."
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Anglian Water will not rule out summer hosepipe ban
A water company said it would not rule out a future hosepipe ban, despite recent rain and river and reservoir levels "delaying the need for restriction". Anglian Water, which supplies a large part of the East of England, said "uncertainty over the future forecast meant a hosepipe ban could still be needed this summer".Four other water firms have introduced hosepipe restrictions following the unseasonably hot and dry weather, with a drought declared for parts of England. In an update on the water situation facing the region, Anglian Water said the last few months had been exceptionally dry, and it had been focusing on tackling leaks to prevent water loss. Ian Rule, director of water services, said: "The East of England is the driest part of the country, so we're used to seeing a lack of rainfall in our region and we plan accordingly. "Our focus on leakage, and the investment we've put in place to give us resilience in the face of climate change, has helped to delay the need for restrictions, but the last few months have been exceptionally dry, even by our standards."Mr Rule confirmed river levels had been low following a lack of rain in spring, "but they have responded better than expected to recent rainfall". He added, with the forecast "far from certain", the water company was "closely monitoring" the Rule said its decisions over a hosepipe ban centred on a "careful balance" between protecting the environment and the region's agricultural sector. Anglian Water also said it had invested more in tackling leaks, with 250 people dedicated to the task, adding it was spending £10m this year on reducing leakage and renewing pipes."However, the dry ground we're seeing at the moment means our water pipes are at greater risk of shifting and breaking, so we're seeing an increase in issues being reported to us, and it's an area we are continuing to focus resources on," he added. The privately-owned water firm urged people to use water carefully. Although there is not currently a drought in England, the Environment Agency previously said there was a "medium risk" of one this Met Office, meanwhile, reported parts of the region saw their sunniest March on record, with the UK experiencing its driest March conditions since drier temperatures left farmers concerned that their crops would struggle to grow, with some taking drastic action to mitigate the April, Elveden Farms, close to the border between Suffolk and Norfolk, said it was in the process of building its third water reservoir, costing about £3m. The country's changing weather patterns mean the UK now experiences a "notably different" climate to what it was just a few decades ago, the Journal of Climatology's State of the UK Climate report change was expected to lead to drier summers on average, while more intense heatwaves meant more water could be lost via evaporation. Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire or BBC Suffolk.
Daily Record
15-07-2025
- Climate
- Daily Record
Urgent warning from Met Office as report shows extreme weather is 'new normal'
The latest report on the UK's climate is a 'call to action' against global warming. The Met Office has issued an urgent warning as extreme weather has become the 'new norm' for the UK. We enjoyed the sunniest spring on record this year and are just out a sweltering heatwave. But we have also seen some wild weather, and these trends of extremely hot weather mixed with severe storms and rainfall show the concerning impact of global warming on our climate. The new State of the UK Climate report was published by Wiley in the Royal Meteorological Society's 'International Journal of Climatology'. It shows that the last three years have been in the top five warmest on record for the UK, with records beginning in 1884. UK temperatures have warmed at a rate of approximately 0.25C per decade since the 1980s, with the most recent decade (2015-2024) being 1.24C warmer than 1961-1990. The report is based on data from a network of several hundred weather stations, with temperature and rainfall records dating back to the 1800s providing the long term context for climate change. The hottest summer days and coldest winter nights have warmed around twice as much in some parts of the UK when comparing the most recent decade of 2015-2024 to 1961-1990. Rainfall has also increased dramatically, bringing greater risks of flooding in the UK. The overall increase in rainfall was caused by an upward trend of rain in the winter half-year (October to March). For 2015-2024, the winter half-year is now 16 per cent wetter than 1961-1990 for the UK. Met Office Climate Scientist and Lead Author of the State of the UK Climate report, Mike Kendon, said: 'Every year that goes by is another upward step on the warming trajectory our climate is on. "Observations show that our climate in the UK is now notably different to what it was just a few decades ago. We are now seeing records being broken very frequently as we see temperature and rainfall extremes being the most affected by our changing climate." These changes in temperature and rainfall have already led to an increase in extreme weather events for the UK. While we've seen major storms this year, such as Storm Éowyn, and several record-breaking heatwaves already, the report only uses data up until the end of 2024. However, it details a spike in severe weather up until the end of last year that caused widespread damage and several deaths. The UK saw widespread flooding last year caused by storms Babet, Ciarán, Debi, Elin, Fergus, Gerrit, Henk, Isha and Jocelyn, and parts of Eastern Scotland in particular were affected. Parts of South Wales also experienced severe flooding from storm Bert in late November 2024, with 100 to 150mm or more of rain falling across high ground. This multi-hazard storm brought heavy rain, strong winds and caused several deaths. Red warnings were also issued across the UK for storm Isha in January and storm Darragh in December of 2024. Chief Executive of the Royal Meteorological Society, Professor Liz Bentley, said: 'This latest edition of the State of the UK Climate report reinforces the clear and urgent signals of our changing climate, rooted in robust observational science. "It documents changes in temperature, rainfall, sea level, and weather extremes that are affecting lives, infrastructure, and ecosystems across the UK. 'The report draws particular attention to the last decade that clearly shows how quickly our climate is evolving to inform policy, resilience planning, and adaptation. Perhaps most striking is the growing impact of extremes. "While long-term averages are shifting, it is the extreme heat, intense rainfall and droughts that are having the most immediate and dramatic effects on people and nature. This report is not just a record of change, but a call to action.'
