UK Government Holds Emergency Meeting Amid Extreme Heat and Wildfires
The UK government has called an emergency meeting to address the ongoing extreme heat and wildfires that have been affecting the country. The meeting, chaired by Andy Burnham, will bring together ministers, officials, and agencies to discuss the challenges posed by the weather.
## UK Government Responds to Extreme Heat and Wildfires The UK government has called an emergency meeting to address the ongoing extreme heat and wildfires that have been affecting the country. The meeting, chaired by Andy Burnham, will bring together ministers, officials, and agencies to discuss the challenges posed by the weather. The extreme heat has caused wildfires and drought across many parts of Britain, with temperatures forecast to reach 33C on Wednesday and up to 38C on Thursday. The government has acknowledged the challenges faced by firefighters, farmers, and NHS staff in responding to the weather-related issues. This is the second Cobra meeting this year on heatwaves, following a meeting in June. The meeting comes as parts of the country face their fifth heatwave this summer, with the number of days reaching 30C in any year in the UK hitting a new record at 35 days so far. ## Climate Breakdown and Wildfires The climate breakdown has been linked to the increasing frequency of wildfires, burning larger areas, across many parts of the world. The "fire wave" under way in the UK is the most widespread on record, with the combination of wet winters and prolonged heatwaves exacerbating the risk. Speaking before the Cobra meeting, Burnham raised the idea of a possible ban on disposable barbecues, which are a known fire risk. He stated that many wildfires in the south have been created by these barbecues and urged people to take the greatest possible care when they are out in the countryside. ## Calls for Ambitious Action Some Labour MPs are keen to see more ambitious ideas emerge from the meeting, amid concern that the UK is lagging when it comes to immediate policies to adapt to a changing climate. They argue that adaptation has always been the poor relation in government and that the country needs to take concrete action to address the climate emergency. The Green party leader, Zack Polanski, has also called for concrete action, including taxing fossil fuel giants to pay for firefighting helicopters, a cool space in every community, and a maximum working temperature. He has also urged the prime minister to commit to no new oil and gas extraction in the North Sea. ## Government Response A No 10 spokesperson has stated that the government understands the challenges faced by firefighters, farmers, and NHS staff in responding to the weather-related issues. They have also urged the public to pay attention to UK Health Security Agency heat alerts and advised people to drink plenty of fluids and check in on family, friends, and neighbours who may be at high risk. The Met Office has issued rare amber "extreme heat" warnings for London and parts of the south-east, East Midlands, east of England, West Midlands, and South Yorkshire from 9am to midnight on Thursday. The government has also urged people to take precautions to stay safe during the heatwave.
