Met Office Red warning for exceptional heat

Met Office issues Red warning for exceptional heat – Friends of the Earth reaction

Reacting to news that the Met Office has issued its first ever Red warning for exceptional heat, Mike Childs, head of research at Friends of the Earth, said:

“Each year the effects of climate breakdown are becoming more evident and more severe. Without meaningful government intervention millions of Brits, particularly older people and young children, will be at increasing risk from health-threating heatwaves like the one we’re experiencing.

“It is worrying that some of the candidates for the Conservative leadership race are suggesting they will row back on the UK’s climate commitments, this would be a reckless and retrograde step. Instead, they should all commit to accelerating action to reduce carbon emissions.

“Our research has identified the 3000 neighbourhoods in England that are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat as the climate crisis intensifies, in places like Birmingham, London and Nottingham. They must be prioritised for adaptation projects if we want to stop a snowballing health crisis.”