UN chief warns London is ‘cooking’ amid unprecedented heatwave

The United Nations chief has warned that London is ‘cooking’ while issuing a sobering reminder of the dangers of fossil fuels.

UN Secretary General Antonio 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.

‘London isn’t just calling. It’s cooking,’ the UN chief 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’,’ he added.

‘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.’

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 settling over western Europe.

The arrival of the El Niño warming weather phenomenon this summer risks ‘blowing the house down’ as it compounds the escalating impacts.

Guterres’ speech comes amid market volatility because of the ongoing Iran War, which has caused fossil fuel prices to surge.

Both crises demand the ‘same answer’, he said: ‘A fast, fair transition to clean energy and a surge in adaptation, resilience and climate justice for those already facing climate harm.’

A red weather warning for extreme heat covering an area stretching from London to Swansea and Somerset to Birmingham was issued by the Met Office from 9am on Wednesday to 9pm on Thursday.

The temperature could come close to the UK’s all-time high of 40.3C which was measured in July 2022.

Overnight, the temperature did not dip below 20C at nine locations across England, recording what the Met Office classifies as a tropical night.

The hot weather led to thunderstorms and lightning strikes over England during the early hours of Tuesday.

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Advice has also been issued for transport users, with Network Rail warning passengers should ‘only travel if absolutely essential on Wednesday and Thursday’.

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. We thank passengers for their patience and understanding during this period.’

Transport for London (TfL) warned customers of possible disruption to rail and Tube services, saying rail temperatures could lead to temporary speed restrictions and reduced services.

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