Heed hot alert

CLIMATE and weather are not the same thing. But the sweltering last few days will dispel any doubt that one affects the other.

The world is clearly getting hotter. And unless we keep up efforts to cap global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels last week will be the norm, not the exception.

People died, schools closed and transport struggled, while the related storms resulted in 800 flights delayed or cancelled yesterday and lightning setting homes ablaze.

The Met Office predicts this will only get worse with mid-40s temperatures in future unless climate change targets are met. Which is why we must not let up on net-zero goals.

There is a short-term cost, but the long-term price for ignoring them would be greater.