My Take | Global warming? Global roasting would be more accurate
- Progress on finding an equitable solution to the climate crisis has been depressingly slow. Hope lies with those likely to be most affected – the young
A comedy sketch showing environmental activist Greta Thunberg delivering the weather forecast is one of the more memorable scenes from the recently revived satirical TV show Spitting Image. A scary puppet version of the campaigning teenager glares into the camera and yells: “Hot!”
The fiery forecast has proved accurate for many parts of the world this month, from Europe to the US, mainland China and Hong Kong. Soaring temperatures have broken records and caused chaos. The heatwaves have left behind a trail of death, destruction and disruption.
Hundreds died and thousands were displaced in Europe as wild fires raged and the intense heat took its toll. France, Spain, Portugal and Greece were among the countries hit.
Britain saw the temperature hit 40 degrees Celsius for the first time last week. A national emergency was declared.
The UK, known for its cold and wet weather, is ill-equipped to deal with what tabloids there call “a scorcher”. Roads and runways melted. Houses caught fire and transport was severely disrupted. People were advised to stay at home. It was not quite a lockdown, but the many sheltering in their homes would have felt that way.
Meanwhile, Saturday was “Great Heat” day in the traditional Chinese calendar. It lived up to its name. China is experiencing a prolonged period of hot weather with many areas sweltering in temperatures of more than 40 degrees.
