‘Extreme’ heat and rainfall is becoming the new normal in the UK, says Met Office
‘Our way of life under threat,’ says Miliband as Met Office warns of new extremes
- The Met Office's latest report confirms the UK's climate is "notably different" from previous decades, with extreme heat and rainfall becoming the norm due to human-caused global warming.
- The UK has warmed by approximately 0.25C per decade, making it 1.24C warmer than the 1961-1990 average, with the last three years ranking among the top five warmest on record.
- For the first time, the report indicates that UK sea levels are rising faster than the global average, increasing the risk of coastal inundation.
- Energy secretary Ed Miliband acknowledged the report as a "stark warning," emphasising the government's commitment to tackling climate change. “Our British way of life is under threat,” Mr Miliband said.
- The warming climate is also impacting nature, with earlier spring events, while the country experiences increased rainfall and floods.