UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has warned that London is 'cooking' amid a severe heatwave, using a major address to highlight the dangers of fossil fuels. Speaking at London Climate Action Week, Guterres referenced Charles Dickens' novel A Tale Of Two Cities to describe the dual crises of climate change and energy dependence.
Guterres delivers stark warning
'London isn't just calling. It's cooking,' 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.' He added, 'On the surface, these crises may seem separate, but they share the same destructive origin: fossil fuels.'
Record-breaking temperatures loom
Temperatures are expected to smash the June record set in 1976 by several degrees as human-driven climate change intensifies the impact of a heat dome over western Europe. The arrival of the El Niño warming phenomenon this summer risks 'blowing the house down' as it compounds the escalating impacts, according to Guterres. The Met Office has issued a red weather warning for extreme heat covering an area from London to Swansea and Somerset to Birmingham, in effect from 9am Wednesday to 9pm Thursday. The temperature could approach the UK's all-time high of 40.3°C recorded in July 2022.
Transport disruption and safety advice
Network Rail has urged passengers to 'only travel if absolutely essential on Wednesday and Thursday' within the red warning zone. Jake Kelly, deputy chief executive of Network Rail, said: 'Extreme heat can have a significant impact on the railway, so safety must come first. We're asking passengers to check before travelling on Tuesday, and only travel if absolutely essential on Wednesday and Thursday if they are going to, from or within the red warning zone, as temperatures are expected to peak. If you do need to travel in this area or outside of it, where it will still be hot, please plan ahead, allow extra time and take necessary precautions, such as carrying water, to stay safe.' Transport for London (TfL) warned of possible disruption to rail and Tube services, with rail temperatures potentially leading to temporary speed restrictions and reduced services.
Heatwave impacts overnight
Overnight, temperatures did not dip below 20°C at nine locations across England, recording what the Met Office classifies as a tropical night. The hot weather also led to thunderstorms and lightning strikes over England during the early hours of Tuesday. Guterres' speech comes amid market volatility due to the ongoing Iran War, which has caused fossil fuel prices to surge. He argued that both crises demand the 'same answer': 'A fast, fair transition to clean energy and a surge in adaptation, resilience and climate justice for those already facing climate harm.'
