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2,877 excess deaths linked to the heatwaves in England in May and June. It looks likely that this year will exceed the record 2,985 excess heat deaths of 2022 (because of the long heatwave in July)

Half of England now in drought - and parts of Devon have gone 50 days with no rain days as.ft.com/r/336c0680-c...

Half of England declared in drought after heatwavesSecond summer drought in two years is ‘exceptionally serious’, says Environment Agencyas.ft.com

One of the reasons why wildfires are such a big deal in Europe is because people often live close to vegetation. Europe has the most widespread wildland-urban interface, where population centres meet with vegetation, with the WUI covering 15% of its land area (global average is just 4.7%)

Xi Jinping’s flagship overseas infrastructure programme the Belt and Road Initiative boosted its green energy financing to a record $20.1bn in the first half of 2026 as the US war in Iran fuels demand for cheaper renewable power as.ft.com/r/083618e1-7...

China pours funding into green energy deals as Iran war hits oil demandBeijing’s Belt and Road Initiative takes advantage of rise in appetite for renewables as Middle East conflict drags onas.ft.com

200,000 people ordered to evacuate now because of the fires in Spain and France. 200,000 as.ft.com/r/da6f737f-8...

France and Spain evacuate 200,000 people as ‘unprecedented’ wildfires spreadExtreme heat and high winds fuel fast-moving blazes as authorities in both countries battle to contain themas.ft.com

One of the weird thing about writing about wildfires and spending time with fire scientists and firefighters is you start to see fuel everywhere. That tall yellow grass by the wooden shed (which backs on to trees and a dried-out park) looks quite beautiful as its wafts in the breeze, but FIRE!

My Lunch with the FT with @metoffice.gov.uk boss Penny Endersby: “This feels like a very unusual summer. But there is not going to be a usual summer because we’re in such a rapidly changing climate.” as.ft.com/r/7d794a7b-8...

Met Office chief Penny Endersby: ‘There is not going to be a usual summer’The head of the UK’s national weather service on this year’s multiple heatwaves, the net zero backlash and why geoengineering is not a panaceaas.ft.com

So grim: Water companies have breached official guidance on discharging sewage at 65 popular swimming sites in England since the start of the bathing season as.ft.com/r/5a5737bf-f...

Sewage discharges flout guidance near 65 beaches in England since MayOverflows at bathing sites come as tourists flock to coastal areas for summer holidaysas.ft.com

This is a lot

Meanwhile the Fire Brigades Union warns the incoming PM that fire services are not prepared for the increased fires and flooding climate change will bring - and calls for him to reject Rosebank

Wait, so Trump wants to price environmental externalities? as.ft.com/r/094ac58f-7...

Donald Trump threatens Canada with tariffs over ‘invasion’ of wildfire smokePresident to call PM Mark Carney over ‘filthy, polluted’ air wafting over US citiesas.ft.com

Provisional Met Office data up to and including 15 July shows that England's average mean temperature so far this summer is 2.4C above the long-term meteorological seasonal average. 2.4C!

Brutal: "The annual cost of hiring a full-time nanny in the home counties has reached almost £60,000" as.ft.com/r/98c0691b-d...

Annual pay for nannies in the UK home counties nears £60,000Salaries outstrip those of inner London, with strong demand in the commuter beltas.ft.com

The UK has experienced 25 days with temperatures of 30C or more this year, including nine days above 34C, surpassing the 1976 record as.ft.com/r/d197e80f-1...

Unprecedented UK stretch above 30C stokes ‘firewave’ and strains emergency servicesSwath of the nation from Kent to Lincolnshire records significantly more rapid warming than the rest of the UKas.ft.com

Another new record: Temperatures of 35C or higher have now been recorded in May, June and July of the same year for the first time in the UK weather record, says the @metoffice.gov.uk

Eurostar was ordering trains that could cope with 45C heat. The unprecedented June heatwave made them rethink that plan as.ft.com/r/24b905df-a...

No. And I absolutely hate the trend of those open bathrooms in hotels as.ft.com/r/3c16e9cb-7...

Should you put a bath in the bedroom?Inspired by boutique hotels, the hybrid trend is growing. Faff, say some. Fabulous, say othersas.ft.com

Schools closing, tubes at 40C, hospitals forced to cancel operations because theatres are too hot. This is Britain where the world has warmed by about 1.3C-1.4C above the pre-industrial level. But we're on course for above 2.5C of warming. Can you imagine what Britain will be like then?

From the Met Office today: The warmest mean temperature for June was recorded in the City of London, with 19.8C, 3.0C above the 1991-2020 average. *3C above the recent average*!

Coastal erosion in £££: In Thorpeness on the Suffolk coast, a house was sold for £1.15mn at the end of 2022. The house was sold again in February this year for £250,000, after 10 neighbouring houses were demolished before they were lost to the sea as.ft.com/r/8023d8fe-0...

England’s coastal homes are falling into the sea — should we save them?Rapid coastal erosion threatens thousands of houses, leaving politicians and communities with a dilemma: save the houses or let nature take its course?as.ft.com