Record hot weather in 2014 is “clear evidence” of climate change, experts say
Green policy news – by GreenWise staff
6th January 2015
Figures released yesterday by the Met Office reveal that 2014 was the UK’s hottest since records began.
Although only provisional, the figures for the whole year suggest last year was the warmest in records dating back to 1910. A report by the Press Association, yesterday, said experts were interpreting the figures as “clear evidence” of the impact of man-made climate change.
2014 did not see any record-breaking months anywhere in the UK, but the figures show it was the hottest year on record across every nation and region apart from Northern Ireland.
Bob Ward, policy and communications director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics (LSE), told the Press Association that the figures for 2014 were “part of a pattern” because eight of the UK’s top 10 warmest years have occurred since 2002.
“This is clear evidence of the impact of man-made climate change on the UK,” said Ward.
“Colossal failure”
“The lack of awareness of the UK public of how climate change is already affecting them represents a colossal failure by the Government and its agencies, including the Environment Agency and the Met Office, to communicate with the public about this issue,” he said.
2014 was also the fourth wettest year on record.
2014 did not see any record-breaking months anywhere in the UK, but the figures show it was the hottest year on record across every nation and region apart from Northern Ireland.
Bob Ward, policy and communications director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics (LSE), told the Press Association that the figures for 2014 were “part of a pattern” because eight of the UK’s top 10 warmest years have occurred since 2002.
“This is clear evidence of the impact of man-made climate change on the UK,” said Ward.
“Colossal failure”
He blamed the Government for failing to do enough to inform the public about their vulnerability to the effects of climate change including extreme weather conditions.
“The lack of awareness of the UK public of how climate change is already affecting them represents a colossal failure by the Government and its agencies, including the Environment Agency and the Met Office, to communicate with the public about this issue,” he said.
2014 was also the fourth wettest year on record.
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