Receive Free Updates on Climate Change
Stay informed about the latest developments in climate change with our free updates. Get a myFT Daily Digest email every morning, rounding up the most important news on climate change.
The UK’s Record-Breaking June Temperature
The United Kingdom experienced its hottest June on record, as confirmed by the Met Office. Amidst mounting criticism of the Sunak government’s response to climate change, the data from the Met Office revealed that the average June temperature of 15.8°C was 2.5°C higher than the average and 0.9°C higher than the previous highest recorded temperature in 1940 and 1976.
Temperature records were broken in 72 out of 97 areas across the UK where temperature data is collected. The Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, Paul Davies, attributed the record temperatures not only to natural variability but also to the background warming of Earth’s atmosphere caused by human-induced climate change.
Heat Resilience Investigation and Rising Heat-Related Deaths
On the same day as the Met Office’s confirmation of the record-breaking June temperature, the UK’s Environmental Monitoring Committee launched a heat resilience investigation that will scrutinize government policies. The investigation comes after heatwaves led to the deaths of 3,271 people, primarily those over the age of 65, between June and August 2022.
The committee highlighted the need to find sustainable cooling methods, noting that air conditioning demand forced Britain to halt its coal-free electricity generation for 46 days in June. Conservative Member of Parliament Philip Dunne, who is also the President of the Environmental Monitoring Committee, stressed the importance of adapting to hotter summers caused by climate change and expressed concern over the increasing trend of heat-related deaths.
Weather Extremes and Impact of Climate Change
June 2022 was not only the hottest on record but also the sunniest since 1957, with only 68% of the month’s average rainfall. Scientists have found that the likelihood of another June exceeding the previous record high temperature of 14.9°C has doubled since the 1940s. Additionally, eight out of the twelve months since 2006 have had record average temperatures.
Looking ahead, the Met Office expects the first half of July to bring temperatures slightly below average but with a higher likelihood of heatwaves in the second half.
The Sunak Government’s Response to Climate Change
The Sunak government has faced increasing criticism for its lackluster approach to climate change. The independent Climate Change Committee issued a report stating that the UK has “lost its global leadership role” under the government’s guidance. Confidence in the government’s ability to meet its 2030 climate targets has significantly decreased compared to a year ago, and its net-zero strategy has been deemed insufficient in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Greenpeace UK climate chief Mel Evans criticized the government’s reliance on fossil fuels, stating that as records of temperature continue to fall, the need for urgent action becomes increasingly apparent. Outgoing environment minister Zac Goldsmith has accused Rishi Sunak of being uninterested in climate change and failing to fulfill domestic and international commitments.
A poll conducted by the non-profit Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit found that a majority of voters support the net-zero goal and believe the government should take more action to address climate change.
ECIU Director Peter Chalkley emphasized the importance of achieving net-zero emissions to mitigate the growing impact of climate change and prevent further worsening of heatwaves and other extreme weather events.
Climate Capital: Where Business, Markets, and Politics Meet Climate Change
What Is Climate Capital?
Climate Capital is the intersection of business, markets, and politics in the face of climate change. It encompasses the various ways in which climate change affects industries, economies, and policies worldwide.
Topics covered in Climate Capital include:
- The financial implications of climate change
- Sustainable investment opportunities
- Government regulations and policies related to climate change
- The role of businesses in mitigating climate change impacts
If you’re interested in exploring more coverage on the relationship between climate change and business, markets, and politics, check out the FT’s coverage of Climate Capital here.
Additionally, the FT is committed to environmental sustainability. To learn more about our scientific goals and initiatives, visit our sustainability page.
Summary
June 2022 brought record-breaking temperatures to the United Kingdom, making it the hottest June on record. The Met Office confirmed that the average temperature was significantly higher than previous years, with 72 out of 97 areas experiencing temperature records. Alongside natural variability, human-induced climate change has contributed to these rising temperatures.
Concerns over heat-related deaths prompted the launch of a heat resilience investigation by the Environmental Monitoring Committee. The investigation aims to address the need for sustainable cooling methods and scrutinize government policies. The UK’s response to climate change has faced criticism, with experts highlighting the government’s failure to meet climate targets and its reliance on fossil fuels.
Climate change impacts extend beyond temperature records, affecting weather patterns, rainfall levels, and the frequency of extreme events. Adapting to these changes and achieving net-zero emissions are crucial in mitigating the growing impact of climate change. Climate Capital explores the intersection of climate change with business, markets, and politics, providing insights into the financial, regulatory, and sustainable investment aspects of addressing climate change.
—————————————————-
| Article | Link |
|---|---|
| UK Artful Impressions | Premiere Etsy Store |
| Sponsored Content | View |
| 90’s Rock Band Review | View |
| Ted Lasso’s MacBook Guide | View |
| Nature’s Secret to More Energy | View |
| Ancient Recipe for Weight Loss | View |
| MacBook Air i3 vs i5 | View |
| You Need a VPN in 2023 – Liberty Shield | View |
Receive free updates on climate change
We will send you a myFT Daily Digest email rounding last Climate change news every morning.
The UK experienced its hottest June on record, with the Met Office confirmation coming as the Sunak government faced mounting criticism over its response to climate change.
Met Office data, dating back to 1884, showed that the average temperature for the month of 15.8°C was 2.5°C higher than average and 0.9°C higher than the previous highest average temperature. June high recorded in 1940 and 1976.
Records were broken in 72 of the 97 areas in the UK from which temperature data is collected. “Alongside natural variability, background warming of Earth’s atmosphere from human-induced climate change has increased the possibility of record temperatures,” said Paul Davies, chief meteorologist at the Met Office.
The Met Office’s confirmation came on the same day that the UK’s Environmental Monitoring Committee launched a new heat resilience investigation which will throw a spotlight on government policy. Between June and August 2022, heatwaves killed 3,271 people, most over the age of 65.
The committee signaled the need to find sustainable cooling methods, noting that in June Britain halted its 46 days of coal-free electricity generation to meet demand for air conditioning.
“Climate change is causing hotter summers for all of us and we need to learn to adapt better,” said EAC President and Conservative Member of Parliament Philip Dunne. “The number of heat-related deaths is already too high and the trend appears to be upwards.”
The UK had its sunniest June since 1957 and just 68% of the month’s average rainfall. The scientists also found that the likelihood of another June exceeding the previous record high of 14.9C has doubled since the 1940s, and eight of the 12 months have had a record average temperature since 2006.
The Met Office expects the first half of July to bring temperatures slightly below average, with a higher likelihood of heatwaves in the second half.
The Sunak government has come under increasing criticism for its lackluster approach to climate change. The independent Climate Change Committee he said in his report last week that the UK has “lost its global leadership role”.
The lack of ministerial initiative gave the committee “significantly less” confidence than a year ago that the UK’s 2030 climate targets would be met, he said. In March, the government admitted that its net zero strategy would fail to reduce greenhouse gas emissions enough to meet its legally enforceable targets.
Greenpeace UK climate chief Mel Evans said “temperature records are falling like dominoes as our reliance on fossil fuels continues to bake the planet. Yet while the dashboard is ablaze with flashing red lights, the prime minister somehow manages to stay asleep behind the wheel.
The prime minister has also come under a vicious attack from the outgoing environment minister Zac Goldsmithwho accused Rishi Sunak of being ‘uninterested’ in climate change, pledging to spend £11.6bn on related aid and tearing up domestic and international commitments.
A poll by the non-profit Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit ahead of local elections in May found that 76% of voters supported the net zero goal and about 53% thought the government should do more to address climate change.
“The collapse of temperature records is a reminder, if any were needed, of the growing impact of climate change,” said ECIU Director Peter Chalkley.
“There is a fair amount of policy debate around net zero, but this often misses the point that unless we get to net zero emissions, more emissions continue to be vented into the atmosphere and heatwaves and other extremes they keep getting worse.”
Climate capital
Where climate change meets business, markets and politics. Explore the coverage of the FT here.
Are you curious about the FT’s environmental sustainability commitments? Learn more about our scientific goals here
—————————————————-