Heat adaptation event cancelled as heatwave grips

An event due to be held in central London about how the world can adapt to extreme heat has been cancelled due to soaring temperatures.

Wednesday's meeting - titled Extreme Heat: Improving governance and strengthening action around the world - was to have been held at the London School of Economics' Shaw Library as part of London Climate Action Week.

Organisers said the university's building did not have any cooling mechanisms in place "like most buildings in London".

A Met Office red warning for extreme heat in London and other parts of England is in place until 23:59 BST on Thursday, with temperatures forecast to hit up to 37C.

A spokesperson for the organisers, the Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance, said they could not risk the wellbeing of attendees.

"The magnitude of future impacts from extreme heat will largely depend on global mitigation efforts, local heat governance, and response plans," the spokesperson said.

"Cities like London have unique potential to adapt to changing heat risks through effective risk management at multiple levels, connecting policies and incentives, and strengthening community adaptation capacity."

Practical Action's Chris Anderson, who was due to take part in the event, said he and other speakers were "fully in favour of the decision".

"But it shows that extreme weather is becoming unpredictable and moving faster than people can adapt, even in the richest countries," he added.

Speaking at a separate Action Week event on Tuesday, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said: "London isn't just calling. It's cooking.

"Crisis brings clarity, and here in London – the city of Dickens – it is clear that our world is facing a 'tale of two crises'."

The soaring temperatures have led to hundreds of school closures, or partial closures, across London and southern England.

Transport for London warned passengers that "very high temperatures may cause disruption to some Tube and rail services, particularly the London Overground and Elizabeth line".

These two services share rail infrastructure with Network Rail, which said the hot weather could affect overhead lines, the tracks and signalling equipment.

Network Rail urged passengers to "only travel if absolutely necessary to, from or within red warning zones" and to stay hydrated.

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