Fossil fuels driving extreme heat and climate breakdown

Environmental campaigners have commented on the extreme weather conditions in the UK. 

Friends of the Earth Scotland Head of Campaigns Mary Church said:

“The extreme heat we are experiencing in Scotland, throughout the UK and Europe is one of the many frightening faces of climate change. We must be absolutely clear that the impacts of this heatwave on people’s health and wellbeing, on the NHS, on public transport, on the economy are the result of the continued burning of fossil fuels.

“Climate breakdown is here, it is deadly serious and it will get much worse unless we act urgently to end our reliance on oil and gas. “

“The immediate focus should be ensuring that people are kept cool and safe through this period of record-breaking heat. But once it passes, politicians must get serious about stopping the causes of the crisis and about adapting to the increasingly extreme climate impacts that are already locked in due to our leaders’ inadequate action to date.

“Burning fossil fuels is the primary driver of climate breakdown so we must rapidly phase out North Sea oil and gas production, as part of a just transition to a renewable-powered economy with decent green jobs and affordable energy for all. The time for rhetorical climate leadership is long past – we need action not words and we need it now.”
 
ENDS