WWF-UK: More heatwaves predicted due to climate change
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More heatwaves predicted due to climate change
Wednesday 19 July 2006
On what is expected to be the hottest day of the year, WWF has warned that more heatwaves will occur in the future if climate change continues to go unchecked.
Today a heatwave is expected to push temperatures towards the UK record of 38°C The Met Office has given a category three warning for the heat wave this week, one level below 'emergency'.
"Climate change is no longer a distant threat - it is fast becoming a daily reality," Keith Allott, Head of Climate Change at WWF, commented.
"Without urgent action to tackle climate change extreme weather events such as heatwaves will become much more prevalent in the UK."
Last year WWF's report Europe feels the heat - showed that London's average maximum summer temperature rose from 20.5°C in the early 1970s to 22.5°C over the last five years, a rise of over 2°C.
Scientists predict that man-made greenhouse gas emissions are doubling the risk of extreme heatwaves, such as the European heatwave of 2003, which resulted in the deaths of more than 25,000 Europeans. Indeed, it is estimated that the temperatures of 2003 will become the norm for summers in the latter part of this century.
As well as high temperatures across the UK, June and July has seen serious flooding in Bangladesh, India and China.
"To avoid the devastating impacts of future extreme weather events we must take urgent action to reduce carbon dioxide emissions," Keith Allott added. "The UK government's energy review was a huge missed opportunity to put us on track to a truly sustainable energy future. Although there were some welcome measures it was not in any way ambitious or urgent enough."
"Climate change is no longer a distant threat - it is fast becoming a daily reality," Keith Allott, Head of Climate Change at WWF, commented.
"Without urgent action to tackle climate change extreme weather events such as heatwaves will become much more prevalent in the UK."
Last year WWF's report Europe feels the heat - showed that London's average maximum summer temperature rose from 20.5°C in the early 1970s to 22.5°C over the last five years, a rise of over 2°C.
Scientists predict that man-made greenhouse gas emissions are doubling the risk of extreme heatwaves, such as the European heatwave of 2003, which resulted in the deaths of more than 25,000 Europeans. Indeed, it is estimated that the temperatures of 2003 will become the norm for summers in the latter part of this century.
As well as high temperatures across the UK, June and July has seen serious flooding in Bangladesh, India and China.
"To avoid the devastating impacts of future extreme weather events we must take urgent action to reduce carbon dioxide emissions," Keith Allott added. "The UK government's energy review was a huge missed opportunity to put us on track to a truly sustainable energy future. Although there were some welcome measures it was not in any way ambitious or urgent enough."
"To avoid the devastating impacts of future extreme weather events we must take urgent action to reduce carbon dioxide emissions"
Keith Allott, WWF Head of Climate Change
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