If this is Climate Change, then bring it on!’ (NOT!)

Blackwater Against New Nuclear Group (BANNG) 15 June 2026, https://www.banng.info/news/regional-life/climate-change-bring-it-on-not/

Professor Andrew Blowers, Chair of BANNG considers this statement in the Blackwater Against New Nuclear Group (BANNG) for Energy and Environment June 2026 Column for Regional Life

The long spell of hot weather we endured/enjoyed (?) towards the end of May may well have been a turning point in our attitude towards Climate Change.

There are still those who deny or refuse to accept the glaring truth that heatwaves and persistently dry weather during summer and intense rainfall and flooding, but rarely frost and snowfall during winter, is becoming the new normal.

For them ‘Bring it on!’ is the response to Climate Change and warmer weather.

But for others the recent heatwave confirmed the growing anxiety that Climate Change is real, happening now, long-lasting and perilous. And it is caused by human misuse, overuse and abuse of the resources of our living space.

The basic facts are well known and now widely accepted. Global warming has already reached an average of 1.4°C above preindustrial levels close to what is regarded as the limit deemed by climate scientists necessary to avoid catastrophic impacts. If present trends continue we are on course for 2.0°C by mid-century and 3.0°C – and possibly even 4.0°C – by the end of the century, at which point, in the words of the UK’s Climate Change Committee, the UK’s climate will be ‘unrecognisable, with potentially catastrophic impacts’.

So, what are we doing by way of mitigation to keep the warming within tolerable limits. Not enough, it seems. All but fools, knaves and naysayers realise global warming is real, pressing and urgent. But, they remain powerful enough to undermine efforts to achieve net zero carbon by 2050.

The transition to electrification of the whole economy is slow and uneven. It requires decarbonisation and long-term commitment. In the current political climate calls to ‘drill, baby, drill’ try to drown out the commitment to sustainable development and net zero.

If the effort to maintain a safe level of global warming is failing we have little choice but to adapt to its consequences as best we can. For the UK this means focusing on three areas.

Cooling our homes and workplaces. Heatwaves with temperatures reaching 40°C would make 92% of homes overheat, threatening health and wellbeing.
Flooding. It is estimated that 1 in 4 properties in England will be at risk of flooding from rivers, sea and surface water by mid-century.
Water management. It will be vital to conserve water to ensure adequate supplies and avoid drought and wildfires.
Land management. We must halt the predicted drop by 2050 of our high quality farmland to 10% from the present 40% and ensure that 30% of land is protected for nature.

Yet, we remain blissfully unprepared in terms of insulating our homes, building flood defences, constructing reservoirs and managing our land. It is estimated that investing in adaptation at the rate of £11Bn each year will generate returns in the tens of billions.

If this is the price to avoid the worst impacts of Climate Change, then……. ‘Bring it on!’.