September 7, 2020

expert reaction to Copernicus bulletin on summer 2020 temperatures

The Copernicus Climate Change Service have released their bulletin on the temperatures of summer 2020.

Prof Hannah Cloke, Professor of Hydrology at the University of Reading, said:

“The latest data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service is a stark reminder of the seasonal impacts of climate change around the world and Europe in particular.  Summer 2020 may not have been the warmest on record, but had a very high number of days when heat stress levels were very high.

“Instead of focussing on the headline-grabbing maximum temperatures, those of us who are worried about heat as a health hazard are also focussing on the very high minimum temperatures.  If you’re unlucky enough to live in a poorly-insulated house, like millions of Britons, such prolonged periods of high night time temperatures will mean you lose sleep, can’t concentrate at work or school, and are at greater risk of potentially lethal heatstroke.

“For people who have an underlying health condition, such as respiratory disease, and perhaps live in an area with poor air quality, a heatwave could be a death sentence.  Like covid, extremes of heat and cold are more dangerous for older people.  It also tends to discriminate against the less well off, who live in the worst adapted housing and can’t afford to make the changes to their homes to counter heat or cold.

“Extreme heat and cold kill thousands of people, and climate change is rapidly making our infrastructure out of date.”

The Copernicus bulletin was published at 08.00am UK time on Monday 7 September 2020,  https://climate.copernicus.eu/climate-bulletins

Declared interests 

None received.