‘London is cooking,’ says UN secretary general, as he urges world to act on fossil fuels
London is “cooking”, according to the head of the United Nations.
The UN secretary general, António Guterres, referenced Charles Dickens’ novel A Tale of Two Cities in a major address at London Climate Action Week as the capital swelters in a severe heatwave.
Speaking at the event on Tuesday, Guterres said: “Crisis brings clarity and here in London – the city of Dickens – it is clear that our world is facing a ‘tale of two crises’.
“A climate crisis is pushing us deeper towards higher temperatures and closer to catastrophic tipping points and an energy crisis is exposing the folly of a world hooked on hydrocarbons.
“On the surface, these crises may seem separate, but they share the same destructive origin: fossil fuels.”
“London isn’t just calling. It’s cooking,” the UN chief added.
Key events
Temperatures could soar to 45C by 2056, scientists say
50 years after the summer heatwave of 1976 (see earlier post), scientists in the UK’s Met Office have developed what they call a “plausible 2056 scenario,” which forecasts the impact of similar heat events on the future.
Based on 2.5C of global heating, temperatures in England could hit 45C, while Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland would face 41C, 38C and 30C respectively.
In that scenario, a prolonged heatwave could continue across a fortnight, including nine days in a row where temperatures would be above 40C.
“Weather is the national conversation in the UK and the summer of 1976 lives on in many memories. Since then, our climate has fundamentally changed, with average UK summers having warmed by around 1.4°C. Crucially extremes have changed too,” Professor Stephen Belcher said.
To be clear, this isn’t a forecast of what will happen, but a scientifically plausible scenario.
Remembering summer 1976: how the historic heatwave has become our new normal
Pippa Neill
The summer of 1976 is seared into national memory as one of record heat. Harvests failed, farmers despaired, Britain imported an extra million tonnes of grain, food prices rose by 12%, taps ran dry, and each day, 250 people died from heat-related deaths.
The heatwave, which began 50 years ago on Tuesday, brought 15 consecutive days on which the peak temperature was above 32C. Half a century later and 32C no longer feels shocking.
On Monday the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued its second-ever red heat health alert for six regions of England, while the Met Office issued a rare red weather warning for Wednesday and Thursday. With temperatures predicted to pass 40C, people are being advised to close doors and windows and shut curtains to stay cool at home.
“When I was a child, sunny summer days felt exciting. I do not want drawn curtains and closed windows to become the defining image of [my child’s] summer,” said Stephanie Robson, of Parents for Future, in a moving address with her six-month-old child at a summer of 1976 anniversary event organised by the University of Reading, Newcastle University and the Royal Meteorological Society in partnership with the Met Office.
The event, held in an air-conditioned basement in King’s Cross, brought together MPs, policymakers and members of the public spanning multiple generations, several of whose phones lit up as the UKHSA issued its red warning.
While the 1976 heatwave was an extraordinary weather event, it took place in a much cooler world. In the past 50 years, average global temperatures have risen by about 1C. But for southern England, this number is between 3C and 4C.
The UK breakdown service, the RAC, has said it is dealing with 10% more breakdowns than usual at this time of year and it anticipates that demand will “increase significantly as temperatures peak”.
RAC breakdown spokesperson Simon Williams said: “Our patrols are currently dealing with 10% more breakdowns than we would normally see on a Tuesday at this point in the summer, but we’re expecting demand to increase significantly as temperatures peak, possibly at record levels, over the next few days.
“And, as rail services have been reduced due to the heat, more people are likely to take to the roads, adding to the traffic and increasing the risk of vehicles overheating.
“Anyone driving a vehicle that’s overdue a service is running the risk of breaking down in scorching heat which could prove to be extremely dangerous.
“Carrying an emergency kit in case of getting stuck at the side of the road is essential.
“This should include plenty of water, sunscreen, a large umbrella to protect from the sun and portable battery pack to keep mobile phones charged.”
‘London is cooking,’ says UN secretary general, as he urges world to act on fossil fuels
London is “cooking”, according to the head of the United Nations.
The UN secretary general, António Guterres, referenced Charles Dickens’ novel A Tale of Two Cities in a major address at London Climate Action Week as the capital swelters in a severe heatwave.
Speaking at the event on Tuesday, Guterres said: “Crisis brings clarity and here in London – the city of Dickens – it is clear that our world is facing a ‘tale of two crises’.
“A climate crisis is pushing us deeper towards higher temperatures and closer to catastrophic tipping points and an energy crisis is exposing the folly of a world hooked on hydrocarbons.
“On the surface, these crises may seem separate, but they share the same destructive origin: fossil fuels.”
“London isn’t just calling. It’s cooking,” the UN chief added.
Heat alerts in Spain reach highest warning level for some regions
Nearly all of Spain was under a heat alert on Tuesday, with parts of the south and north of the country placed on the highest warning level, AFP reports.
National weather agency AEMET issued red alerts – a warning for “extraordinary danger” – for areas around the southern city of Cordoba, the northern city of Bilbao and parts of the northern region of Cantabria.
Temperatures of up to 40C in the shade were forecast in parts of the Basque Country on the border with France, an area where such extreme heat is relatively uncommon.
Large swathes of central and northern Spain were placed under orange alerts – the second-highest level– while most of the remainder of the country was covered by yellow warnings. Only areas on the coastline escaped heat alerts.
France experiences hottest night since records began
France experienced its hottest night from Monday to Tuesday since measurements began in 1947, the national weather agency said.
The national temperature indicator – an average of readings from 30 stations across France – reached 21.6C, according to preliminary figures taken Tuesday morning. The previous record was 21.4C, set on July 25, 2019.
European heatwave triggers surge in electricity market prices and shuts down French nuclear plant
Jillian Ambrose
The heatwave has triggered a surge in electricity market prices across Europe this week to levels usually reserved for the middle of winter.
As millions turn to air conditioning to counter the rising temperatures, the high pressure heat dome affecting much of Europe has caused wind speeds to drop, limiting the continent’s renewable energy.
The higher temperatures also led to the unplanned shutdown of a major French nuclear plant by limiting its access to cooling water needed to run its reactors. French utility EDF expects the reactor to remain offline until temperatures return to normal next week.
The combination of rising electricity demand and falling low-carbon generation has caused prices to climb to multi-year highs.
In Germany, Europe’s biggest electricity market, wholesale prices will reach highs of €545.51 per megawatt-hour this evening, the highest since June 2024, according to the Epex Spot exchange.
In France, the price at the same time will climb to €268.67 per megawatt-hour, the highest since August 2023. UK power markets show a price of almost £230/MWh for this evening from 8pm, almost three times the average price of £86.28/MWh in June last year.
Jakub Krupa
Poland is bracing for the heatwave to hit this weekend as it moves eastwards from France and Germany. Temperatures are expected to peak on Sunday, reaching up to 38C in the capital, Warsaw, and up to 41C in the Lower Silesia region.
If the forecasts are accurate, temperatures could smash the June record for Poland – 38.2C, set in 2019 – or even the all-time national record of 40.2C from 1921.
The government’s security agency, the RCB, has issued advice urging Poles to limit time spent outdoors, drink plenty of water and cover their heads when in direct sunlight.
Fire services in west of England warn of wildfire risks
Steven Morris
Fire services are worried that there could be a spate of wildfires in the hot weather.
Dorset and Wiltshire fire and rescue service asked farmers and businesses to postpone “controlled” burns.
It said on Tuesday: “To reduce the risk of wildfires during these hot and dry conditions, we urge everyone to refrain from conducting prescribed or controlled burns unless absolutely essential. These fires can easily spiral out of control and spread rapidly.”
Devon and Somerset fire and rescue service issued wider advice including:
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Don’t have campfires or barbecues in the countryside. Only have them in safe designated areas.
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Avoid having bonfires in very dry weather. If you must have a bonfire,
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Glass in direct sunlight can cause fires – ensure there is none lying around.
Here are some of the latest photos from the heatwave in Europe.
Damian Carrington
People are already paying the price for the UK government’s inaction in protecting them from the climate crisis, says Holly Brazier Tope, Director of Politics at the Green Alliance.
“We built and planned our homes and communities for a UK that isn’t this hot, and right now, people are paying the price. Schools are closing early, NHS appointments are being cancelled, trains are running late. This is the reality of climate change on our doorstep and successive governments have left people to face it unprotected. Without urgent action, 92% of existing homes could overheat by mid-century and heat-related deaths could rise to 10,000 a year.
“In the summer of 2022, we lost more people to heat than were killed on our roads in the entire year. And yet government did not act. This is not a future threat. It is here, it is now, and it is the consequence of inaction. This government must respond fast with a systemic, nationwide response that delivers smarter planning, community resilience, protection now and net zero for the future.”
You can read the recent verdict of the UK government’s official advisers, the Climate Change Committee here: UK ‘built for climate that no longer exists’ and needs urgent changes to survive global heating, report warns
London Fire Brigade (LFB) said it had responded to around 400 calls overnight, including two house fires believed to be caused by lightning strikes and flooding of homes.
Thunderstorms following soaring temperatures caused flash flooding in the capital, the LFB said as it urged drivers not to drive through flooded areas.
Storms and heavy rain bring disruption to London transport
There is severe disruption across London’s transport network on Tuesday, in part caused by the extreme weather.
On the Elizabeth Line, heavy rain has caused flooding which means there is no service between Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3 and Heathrow Terminal 4, Transport for London said. Meanwhile, there are severe delays between Paddington and Heathrow Terminal 5 and Reading due to an earlier points failure at Southall.
There are also severe delays on the Mildmay Line, which is running a reduced service because of the hot weather.
The Metropolitan Line remains partly suspended between Baker Street and Aldgate, while the Hammersmith and City Line is also suspended between Barking and Moorgate. The entire Circle Line has been suspended, as have parts of the District Line.
The UK Met Office said 29,074 lightning strikes have been recorded in the UK in the last 24 hours to 9am on Tuesday.
All of these strikes were over England, with the majority – 18,540 – over Somerset.
The Met Office’s lightning map also shows there have been hundreds more strikes across south-east England on Tuesday morning.
The highest overnight temperature was 20.4C in Gosport, Hampshire, while eight other place recorded a tropical night, meaning one where temperatures do not fall below 20C.
These were Crosby, in Merseyside, Plymouth and North Wyke, in Devon, Aberporth, Cardiff and St Athan in Wales, Hurn in Dorset and the Isle of Wight.
