Greta Thunberg has warned that the 40°C heatwave sweeping across the UK is 'only the beginning' of the climate crisis, accusing British leaders of having 'their heads completely buried in the sand'. The 23-year-old climate activist spoke out as the Met Office issued a four-day extreme heat warning across large parts of England and Wales, with temperatures forecast to reach 40°C, potentially breaking the June record of 35.6°C set in 1976 in Southampton.
Thunberg's Warning on the Heatwave
Thunberg told Metro that the blistering temperatures are exactly what experts have predicted for decades. 'This is what experts have been warning about for decades,' she said. 'We know that the climate crisis is here and now, and not a faraway threat in the future, and those suffering the most are the ones who have contributed the least to cause it.' She added: 'This is unfortunately only the beginning.'
The heatwave is driven by a 'heat-dome' settling over western Europe, where an area of high pressure traps warm air underneath. Scientists say human-caused climate change has made these phenomena more intense and frequent. Last month, parts of London hit 34.8°C, breaking the record for the hottest May.
Political Inaction and Fossil Fuel Links
Thunberg criticised the UK government's response, stating that leaders are not treating the crisis as the existential threat it is. 'The UK's responsibility for the climate crisis cannot be overstated, still its leaders continue acting as if there was no tomorrow,' she said. She claimed British leaders have 'their heads completely buried in the sand with pockets lined up with dirty money'.
Climate campaigners have long highlighted the links between political parties and the fossil fuel industry. According to research reported by the Guardian in 2025, government ministers met representatives from the fossil fuel industry more than 500 times during Labour's first year in power. The government defended the meetings, stating they were part of a focus on driving 'forward our clean energy superpower mission'.
Calls for Climate Reparations
Thunberg backed calls for the UK to pay climate reparations, arguing that western countries became rich through centuries of high fossil fuel use, disproportionately affecting poorer countries in the Global South. 'It's about time for the UK to repay its climate debt and limit the worst consequences of a crisis people are already dying from, which there is still time to do,' she said.
Some schools in the red warning area are closing early to protect students. The Wren Academy in north London, for example, will close at 1.50pm for three days this week. The UK government argues it is a global leader in decarbonisation, having reduced emissions by over 50% while growing the economy by over 80% since 1990, and remains committed to reaching net zero by 2050. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has been contacted for comment.
