UK Must Prepare for 2C of Global Warming by 2050, Climate Advisers Warn

Climate Change Committee (CCC) advisers have cautioned the UK government to be prepared for weather extremes at least 2C of global warming by 2050. The warning comes as the UK is already experiencing worsening weather events, such as heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, and flooding, at current levels of 1.4C of warming. The CCC has urged the government to set stronger objectives and targets for protecting health, homes, food security, infrastructure, and key public services in the face of 2C of warming by 2050. The committee has also advised that new infrastructure, including homes and electricity networks, must be built with the ability to adapt to temperatures of up to 4C above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century.

Key Takeaways:

• The UK is not adapted to worsening weather extremes such as heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, and flooding, and is expected to experience more frequent, powerful, and increasingly unprecedented weather events due to at least 2C of global warming by 2050.
• The Climate Change Committee (CCC) has urged the government to set stronger objectives and targets for protecting health, homes, food security, infrastructure, and key public services in the face of 2C of warming by 2050.
• New infrastructure, including homes and electricity networks, must be built with the ability to adapt to temperatures of up to 4C above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century.
• The UK has had its hottest summer on record, with much of the country in drought, and one of the worst harvests on record, highlighting the need for climate adaptation.
• The CCC is planning to release a major report on how the UK can adapt to climate change in May next year, which will set out further details of what needs to be done to prepare the country for climate change.
• Government departments will be called upon to be clearly accountable for delivering clear long-term objectives for adapting the UK to climate change by 2050.

Statistics:

• Global warming of 2C above preindustrial levels is expected to lead to more frequent, powerful, and increasingly unprecedented weather events in the UK.
• The chances of a heatwave occurring each year will double due to 2C of warming.
• The time spent under drought conditions across England is also expected to double due to 2C of warming.
• The UK has had a 40C heatwave in 2022, causing a spike in heat deaths and destructive wildfires.
• The UK has experienced record-wet weather for 18 months prior to the heatwave.

Sources:

• Climate Change Committee (CCC) letter to the Government, no date provided
• PA Wire, GARETH FULLER, caption under photograph