Comment: this heatwave was a warning we can't ignore

Last week, we saw scorching temperatures across the South as the UK was gripped by a gruelling heatwave. A rare red weather warning was issued across parts of West Sussex, with many people taking to staying indoors, blinds and curtains drawn, in a bid to keep out the heat.

The impacts were severe and widespread. Southern Rail advised passengers to travel only if essential, as many services were cancelled outright and those that did run were often significantly delayed, with the extreme heat increasing the risk of rails buckling. At St Richard’s Hospital, the unforgiving temperatures saw operations postponed or cancelled. Meanwhile, A&E faced intense pressure as demand surged, and the South East Coast Ambulance Service declared a critical incident after experiencing one of its busiest days of the year. Schools across the area saw closures or early finishes, with exams disrupted and buildings simply not fit for the heat. Major supermarkets in Chichester saw fridges and freezers packing up, providing little respite for those trying to cool down with an ice cream. 

Scorching temperatures across the South can no longer be ignored.

I want to pay tribute to all those on the frontline. NHS staff worked tirelessly in incredibly challenging conditions. Schools did a brilliant job at adapting quickly in the heat, and I thank all the teachers who made sure students were looked after and their safety prioritised.

It’s clear that our country is ill-equipped to deal with temperatures of this sort, with infrastructure buckling under conditions it was never designed to withstand. What is particularly worrying is that, now that we are in a climate crisis, these events will only become more frequent.

For years, successive governments have failed to confront the urgency of this challenge. Households and businesses are still living in the shadow of the Conservative government’s flip flopping on climate policy. Their short-sighted decisions have left the country poorly prepared for the transition to net zero and more immediately, less prepared to deal with the weather we see today. 

The UK should be a global leader in the efforts needed to tackle climate change, particularly given the US’s rejection of the cooperative multilateral approach to international climate policy. Instead, we find ourselves consistently missing climate targets and watering down plans to transition to net zero.

It is why, the Liberal Democrats welcome the recent Seventh Carbon Budget and the Government’s acceptance of the Climate Change Committee’s advice on the budget level. But as we have seen, setting a target is the easy part; delivering it is what counts, and it is sad that the Conservative Party have abandoned their commitment to the environment to entice the voters in Reform. 

With warmer temperatures set to return next week, please look after yourselves, follow advice from the Met Office and stay hydrated.