UK heatwave live: Burnham considers ban on disposable barbecues to prevent wildfires | Extreme heat
Burnham says he’s contemplating ban on disposable BBQs
Andrew Sparrow
Disposable barbecues could possibly be banned to assist prevent fires, the prime minister has stated.
Speaking to reporters on a go to to Stevenage, Andy Burnham stated a ban was one thing the federal government was “certainly going to consider”.
As reported earlier, the prime minister will chair an emergency Cobra assembly in response to the acute heat.
Burnham stated:
There is clearly a big downside of wildfires within the south. The New Forest fireplace is a good concern; we’ve got seen them in northern areas, in addition to Suffolk not too long ago.
This is a message for the general public as properly as a result of the wildfires I discussed, lots of them have been created by disposable barbecues.
I do consider we’d like to get the message out loud and clear. People shouldn’t be utilizing these barbecues exterior at this second in time.
I don’t know but what the treatment is, however I do need to go away the assembly as we speak with a loud and clear message that we do need folks to take the best potential care when they’re out within the countryside, each by way of cigarettes, but in addition these short-term barbecues that we all know are inflicting danger of fires.”
For extra UK politics information, you possibly can observe our reside weblog right here:
Key occasions
Expert warns of ‘local weather leaveism’ brought on by faculty closures throughout excessive heat
We have extra feedback in response to the report that heatwaves have value the UK financial system £4.4bn (which you’ll learn here).
University of Manchester professor Sir Cary Cooper, broadly considered one of many world’s main authorities on office organisation, well being and wellbeing, has warned that college closures are making a largely unrecorded affect on employers and employees – a phenomenon he has described as “climate leaveism”.
He stated:
The estimated £4.4bn hit is a stark reminder that excessive heat is now a office and financial disaster. However, even this determine could not reveal the complete disruption. When overheated faculties shut, working mother and father are pressured to take go away, lose working hours or catch up late into the night.
This ‘climate leaveism’ will not be mirrored on the absence spreadsheet nevertheless it actually impacts the worker. Businesses should put together for excessive climate as an ongoing workforce danger, with clear dependent-care insurance policies and managers empowered to reply flexibly. Otherwise, the hidden prices will proceed to be paid via exhaustion, stress and misplaced productiveness.”
Just 20 of 6,600 Defra employees working on local weather adaptation amid drought and wildfires
The Guardian’s atmosphere correspondent Sandra Laville has this unique report on the federal government’s lack of assets to put together for the impacts of local weather change, revealing that simply 20 of 6,600 Defra employees are working on local weather adaptation.
That means simply 0.3% of employees inside the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are tasked with defending the atmosphere and sustaining meals safety.
“England is desperately unprepared for the impacts of the climate crisis, and these shocking figures show how few officials are working on the problem at the top of government,” stated environmental author and campaigner Guy Shrubsole, who obtained the information via a freedom of data request.
Read extra:
Damian Carrington
Climate scientist Dr Clair Barnes has a helpful reminder of the basis reason behind the UK’s blazing and bone dry summer season.
The science linking this summer season’s heatwaves to local weather change is crystal clear – fossil fuels have made each single one hotter and extra possible.
Our findings this summer season present that local weather change is inflicting heatwaves to attain dangerously sizzling temperatures that might have been inconceivable in a preindustrial climate and instantly driving up heat-related deaths.
We additionally discovered that the present drought isn’t solely the results of the dearth of rainfall however has been made way more extreme by these extended excessive temperatures. Hotter air can maintain extra moisture and so the additional heat we’ve seen has been making the environment thirstier, sucking water from the ground.”
Barnes is at Imperial College London and the World Weather Attribution consortium.
UK climate forecast as we speak
Here’s as we speak’s newest Met Office forecast for UK cities:
Aberdeen 22C
Belfast 24C
Birmingham 32C
Cardiff 33C
Glasgow 25C
Liverpool 32C
London 32C
Newcastle 29C
Plymouth 31C
Sheffield 31C
Taz Ali
Spotted this image on the newswires that feels actually apocalyptic:
The Green occasion chief, Zack Polanski, has commented on evaluation estimating that this summer season’s heatwaves have value the UK financial system £4.4bn to date this 12 months (you possibly can learn that report here).
In a press release issued earlier than the federal government introduced an emergency Cobra assembly, Polanski stated:
This summer season’s excessive heat is placing on the coronary heart of our financial system, dropping this nation billions after we can sick afford it.
And but prime minister Burnham is lacking in motion on this concern – we haven’t heard a phrase about how he plans to hold folks protected or shield our financial system from the shocks to come.
We want a Cobra assembly to set out an emergency response to the hazard going through us now, and the harm coming quick down the tracks as heatwaves and flooding get extra excessive.”
Burnham says he’s contemplating ban on disposable BBQs
Andrew Sparrow
Disposable barbecues could possibly be banned to assist prevent fires, the prime minister has stated.
Speaking to reporters on a go to to Stevenage, Andy Burnham stated a ban was one thing the federal government was “certainly going to consider”.
As reported earlier, the prime minister will chair an emergency Cobra assembly in response to the acute heat.
Burnham stated:
There is clearly a big downside of wildfires within the south. The New Forest fireplace is a good concern; we’ve got seen them in northern areas, in addition to Suffolk not too long ago.
This is a message for the general public as properly as a result of the wildfires I discussed, lots of them have been created by disposable barbecues.
I do consider we’d like to get the message out loud and clear. People shouldn’t be utilizing these barbecues exterior at this second in time.
I don’t know but what the treatment is, however I do need to go away the assembly as we speak with a loud and clear message that we do need folks to take the best potential care when they’re out within the countryside, each by way of cigarettes, but in addition these short-term barbecues that we all know are inflicting danger of fires.”
For extra UK politics information, you possibly can observe our reside weblog right here:
Firefighters proceed to sort out wildfire in New Forest
Firefighters have labored via the night time and are persevering with to sort out the heathland fireplace within the New Forest in Hampshire, the native authority stated.
The A31 that runs via the New Forest is closed in each instructions, with highway closures anticipated to stay in place for at the least the subsequent 48 hours whereas emergency providers proceed to reply to the fireplace.
The New Forest district council has issued well being recommendation to these affected by smoke from the continuing wildfire, telling folks to keep away from smoky areas, keep indoors with home windows and doorways closed and keep away from strenuous outside exercise whereas smoke is current. If driving via smoke, hold car home windows closed and use the air-conditioning’s recirculation setting, the council added.
In a press release, council chief Jill Cleary stated:
My thanks and gratitude to everybody working tirelessly to reply to this ongoing incident and hold our communities protected, in addition to minimising the affect on our distinctive atmosphere and wildlife.
The emergency providers are persevering with to work arduous on the bottom, supported by council groups, Forestry England, the National Park Authority, National Highways, and lots of others.
This is a difficult scenario, and the continued cooperation between all of the organisations concerned is massively necessary.
I’m additionally grateful to our employees working behind the scenes to assist the response, and preserve important council providers, and I might additionally like to thank residents and people visiting the world for his or her endurance and understanding whereas the response continues and we work to scale back any potential disruption to our providers.”
My colleague Sandra Laville has this report from the New Forest:
Stay away from Dunwich Heath amid ongoing fireplace danger, National Trust warns
People have been urged to keep away from Dunwich Heath in Suffolk as authorities assess wildfire harm and take care of an unexploded second world warfare bomb uncovered by the blaze.
The wildfire on the nature reserve has scorched greater than 100 hectares (247 acres) of heathland because it took maintain nearly two weeks in the past, the National Trust stated. Suffolk’s 35 fireplace stations, alongside 18 different fireplace providers from throughout the nation, took half within the firefighting operation.
The conservation charity stated coastal winds are stirring up ash and particles, rabbit burrows and warrens have retained important heat and timber with burnt root techniques are susceptible to collapse. Parts of the panorama have been left unrecognisable, making it tougher to navigate, and fires unfold alongside cliffs placing their stability in danger and making the seaside beneath unsafe.
The National Trust stated it might take a number of weeks to totally assess the location, with some areas of the fireplace floor nonetheless inaccessible. The fireplace has uncovered unexploded ordnance relationship again to the second world warfare, with specialists warning there could possibly be extra nonetheless to discover.
Russell Clement, normal supervisor for the National Trust, stated:
Right now… the easiest way folks can assist is by staying away from the reserve.
We understand how necessary Dunwich Heath is to the local people and guests alike, however we’d like to guarantee it’s protected earlier than anybody returns.”
He continued:
With no rain forecast and continued sizzling climate, there stays the danger of additional flare-ups within the days and weeks forward, which would require the fireplace service again on website.
In the meantime, Dunwich village stays open and we’d encourage folks to assist the native companies, that are such an necessary a part of the group.”
My colleagues Patrick Barkham and Pippa Neill have extra on the affect of the Dunwich Heath fireplace, which destroyed important habitat for uncommon wildlife and badly affected the local people and tourism. You can learn their report right here:
UK heatwaves could have value financial system £4.4bn in misplaced output to date this 12 months, evaluation finds
Heather Stewart
Repeated debilitating heatwaves this summer season are possible to have value the UK financial system greater than £4bn in misplaced financial output by the top of July, new evaluation exhibits.
Green thinktank Verdant had instructed June’s unseasonally sizzling climate had an economic cost of £2.36bn. Updating its evaluation to embrace final month’s excessive temperatures, it finds a £4.4bn hit to output.
As temperatures soar once again this week, Verdant’s director, James Meadway, stated: “The economic costs of climate change are already with us, and set to worsen in future years. Action by the government to protect workers and businesses from the severe effects of extreme heat is well overdue.”
Direct financial prices come up as a result of employees throughout many industries change into much less productive in heatwaves, whereas infrastructure and gear overheats and has to be shut down.
Verdant is asking for the federal government to implement a most working temperature; and be prepared to step in to compensate employees when they’re pressured to reduce their hours due to excessive heat.
Read extra:
The Guardian’s atmosphere editor Damian Carrington has put collectively this explainer on why Europe is warming about twice as quick as the worldwide common, with shifting climate patterns, Arctic warming, declining snow cowl and lowered air air pollution all contributing alongside greenhouse gasoline emissions:
Lib Dems and Greens welcome Cobra assembly however name for extra pressing motion
We have some feedback from the Liberal Democrats and Green occasion on the Cobra emergency meeting scheduled for later as we speak.
While welcoming the federal government’s announcement, the Lib Dem atmosphere spokesperson Pippa Heylings stated emergency conferences weren’t sufficient to put out fires or shield our communities, saying “we urgently need a national strategy to make the UK climate-ready”.
She added: “Extreme weather warnings, widespread water shortages and wildfires raging across our countryside are a stark reminder that the climate crisis is gripping the country, yet the government is moving at a snail’s pace, waiting until the fifth heatwave this summer to act.”
Similarly, Green occasion chief Zack Polanski stated the Cobra assembly was “only a first step”, including: “This is a climate emergency which is leading to hundreds of deaths and stretching our firefighters, health staff and farmers to the limit. What we urgently need is concrete action.
“That must include taxing fossil fuel giants to pay for firefighting helicopters, a cool space in every community, and a maximum working temperature.
“The prime minister must also commit to no new oil and gas extraction in the North Sea. We cannot negotiate with the science.”
Parts of UK brace for one more heatwave as authorities convenes emergency Cobra assembly
Parts of the UK will face the fifth heatwave of the summer season this week with temperatures forecast to attain highs of 38C, prompting the Met Office to concern an amber climate warning for excessive heat.
The record-shattering heatwave has brought about wildfires and drought in lots of elements of the nation, with this summer season on course to be the UK’s hottest since information started, in accordance to the Met Office. The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) stated firefighters have responded to 966 wildfires throughout England and Wales this 12 months, together with 185 within the first 10 days of August alone. The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) normal secretary, Steve Wright, instructed Times Radio the nation faces a nationwide emergency “right now”, with wildfires seen “all across” the UK.
Nearly three-quarters of England and the entire of Wales are in drought, creating tinderbox situations which have fuelled the fast unfold of wildfires. Southern Water has utilized for a uncommon drought order that might prohibit companies in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight from utilizing water for non-essential actions, together with cleansing vehicles and filling swimming swimming pools, citing exceptionally low rainfall and issues over provides. If authorized, it will be the primary such ban since May 2006, with the choice resting with the atmosphere secretary, Angela Eagle.
The excessive heat has prompted the federal government to convene an emergency Cobra assembly – the second this 12 months in response to a heatwave. You can learn extra on that right here:
“We know how challenging this summer is proving, particularly for firefighters tackling wildfires, farmers working in drought conditions, and NHS staff in busy A&E units,” a Downing Street spokesperson stated forward of the assembly this afternoon, which shall be chaired by the prime minister, Andy Burnham.
“We will continue to take the action needed to keep communities safe, protect water supplies, support farming communities and safeguard the environment.”
Temperatures might attain 33C as we speak and up to 38C tomorrow, the Met Office stated, because it issued an amber heat warning for big elements of England, overlaying areas together with London, St Albans, Cambridge, Oxford, Milton Keynes, Peterborough, Leicester, Birmingham, Nottingham, Lincoln and Sheffield. It shall be in place from 9am tomorrow to midnight.
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The Met Office warned that the ‘“extreme heat” warning will likely cause “adverse” health effects to people vulnerable to extreme heat, adding that there could be delays to travel and that some “heat sensitive systems and equipment may fail”, leading to potential power cuts at some homes and businesses.
“While the peak heat will be more short-lived than recent heatwaves, temperatures widely into the mid-30s Celsius on Thursday brings the potential for impacts for some, which is why a Met Office warning has been issued,” said chief forecaster Chris Bulmer.
Earlier, the Met Office said another record-breaking summer was increasingly likely, after the UK recorded its second-warmest June and July on record, with temperatures reaching 38C in June and 35C in July. It said the repeated heatwaves were a stark reminder of the changes taking place in the UK’s local weather.
As my colleague Damian Carrington wrote yesterday, the local weather disaster, brought on by the air pollution from fossil gas burning, makes each heatwave extra possible and intense. The heatwave on the finish of June was the most severe ever recorded in Europe and wouldn’t have been potential with out human-caused world heating.