In one town in the Valencia region of Spain, a year’s worth of rain fell in eight hours. At least 51 people are known to have died in flash floods, but that number is almost certain to rise. Video footage shows people clinging on to their lives, bridges being washed away, cars careering down torrents. It is not some dystopian feature film, but Europe in 2024.
Not every extreme weather event is the result of climate change. But scientific evidence shows that incidents such as flash floods, wildfires and hurricanes are made more intense and frequent as a result of a world warmed by greenhouse gasses. It is basic chemistry that warmer air can contain more moisture, leading to the vastly more explosive storms we have seen this week.
For its part, London has historically enjoyed a mild climate. Persistent grey clouds are the most common, and indeed depressing weather. Yet even the capital is already showing signs of climate stress. There were the 40 degrees celsius days in the summer of 2022, even wildfires in east London, drought as well as flooding. On the other end of the spectrum, the potential collapse in the Atlantic gulf stream, which delivers warm ocean currents to the UK, could be catastrophic, transforming our climate into an Arctic landscape.
Consequently, we must boost our resilience. That means reducing the capital’s flood risk through drainage upgrades, preparing for more drought conditions and reducing heat outside through trees and inside through better design. But ultimately, we must reach net zero carbon emissions. Last week, analysis from the United Nations showed that current national plans to limit carbon emissions left the world on course for warming of 3.1C. This would be catastrophic.
Events in Valencia on Tuesday must serve as a reminder that climate change is not something our children and grandchildren will face. It is happening before our eyes. We must prepare for a warmer, wetter and drier future. And get serious about cutting carbon emissions. In the meantime, Londoners, like everyone around the world, should prepare themselves for more chaotic events.
