40C - 49C forecast for Europe next week - that is ridiculously hot

[cakeorwine]

‘I’ve never seen heat this bad. It’s not normal’: Italy struggles as temperature tops 40C | Italy | The Guardian

It's scary to think of these temperatures - not at all good for the human body.

I hope people who are going abroad over summer are prepared - or at least aware of how to stay safe in such heat.

And @cakeorwine go back and read @GingerScallop post cos you completely misunderstood the point she was making

I was I'm Malta about 16 years ago this time of the year and it was 45 degrees! The locals said it was normal but they were hoping for some rain that then came in buckets for about 2 weeks after we left! My daughter is in Spain ATM and it's warmer than here (but that's normal!) But not unbearable 42 ish! Theu are loving it after the crap weather here!

Those posters who fly abroad for holidays, how do you feel about your contribution to climate change?

Posters on MN continue to say “Driving is a life skill, I’d never date a man who couldn’t drive”.

<am made or nature. we do not know and haven't been around long enough.

I would do exactly the same....but I would probably not have booked in the first place. I cut my holiday to France short by a week once as it was nudging 40, deeply unpleasant and I was in the early stages of pregnancy to boot. I have never gone to Southern Europe in the summer since and never will again. I think the 'hot' destinations in the summer in 20 years time might well be Scotland, the West of Ireland, Norway, etc as people look to escape the heat. But contributing to the problem by flying there of course.

@BlackForestCake People are so attached to driving and having several cars even. I think mn is particularly attached to material values and status, but it's odd how so many can do things which destroy their own children's future.

Hotitalian · Today 00:46
<am made or nature. we do not know and haven't been around long enough.

The consensus of over 90% of scientists in the field, globally, is that is us man made. Regardless of the model used. It’s exactly how climate prediction models said it would be - but worse and happening faster.

The science is unequivocal. We are heading for catastrophic tipping points. We are already seeing - water shortages, crop failures, increased morbidity and mortality, climate fuelled migration. All of these will get worse. This is highly likely to lead to global instability and conflict.

BUT there is still a small window to reduce the impact and prevent to worst possible scenarios;

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/stories/climate-action/amp-index.html

We are responsible. It’s just convenient to imagine a case where we are not so we don’t have to change.

user9630721458 · Today 00:45
Those posters who fly abroad for holidays, how do you feel about your contribution to climate change?

Good question. Once I’d made the links I stopped flying unnecessarily. I think it was making the link between my own choices and the shit storm coming (happening) that really shifted things.

But the air industry is a powerful beast and the high carbon footprint of air travel isn’t talked about much. For some reason flying is seen as a right.

I remember looking at figures about who flies and most flights are token by a very small proportion of the global population - the wealthiest few - yet those action disproportionately affect the poorest.

I just feel too guilty now. And it’s a very easy change to make. I do get a bit sad about the places I won’t see but my desire to travel/lie in the sun shouldn’t trump the survival, safety and well-being of humanity as a whole.

People through history have had children through far worse. Many times there would have been very little chance of your baby surviving (plague, war, inprosoment, capture) yet still people had babies.

@LittleApartmentOnThePrairie That's absolutely brilliant to hear, and I do relate to your feelings about giving up easy access to far away places. For what it's worth my favourite journeys have been long overland ones, around Europe and on to Asia. But I think you are right that it is easy to give up most flights, at least the annual break in the sun. The UK has many lovely places, you can access Europe by boat and rail also. I think you are doing a very responsible thing and it's much appreciated.

I was in Rome when it was 42 degrees about 10 years ago but it was dry heat, and not humid so not as bad as I had expected. I was younger and fitter then. I couldn't cope with it now.

I hope we get some heat it’s been really changeable here. I liked the heatwave last year.

Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.

user9630721458

Thanks. We are thinking about a family inter-railing trip next year. France is easy enough. Still loads of UK to explore though.

At some point we will have to fly to OZ as elderly rels over there. Can’t train or boat it there!!

Siameasy · Today 01:21
I hope we get some heat it’s been really changeable here. I liked the heatwave last year.

You might start to feel differently as food prices keep rising as more and more crops fail. Things are predicted to get really tough.

Inter rail sounds fun. We are thinking of Ireland. Yes, no easy overland/sea route to Oz, I agree, but with family it's necessary.

Do they normally close the acropolis in the summer during the hottest part of the day? announce red alerts in Italy? Are the temperatures they are talking about on the news different to those on the weather forecast websites as the temperature on those sites is the temperature in the shade?

Not since the Ice Age. You may be fine with shit being difficult to the point of high child mortality and huge, unnecessary loss of lives but I want better for my children.

Most parents and grandparents do.

Brother is off to Turkey in two weeks time - god help him

Why you'd go there in summer is beyond me

YANBU OP. But some people totally resistant to reality and commonsense.

https://www.gbnews.com/opinion/climate-change-europe-weather-summer-holidays-panic-michael-booker

Lol, who gives a fuck about them?? They're waaaaay over there and we're waaaaay over here, where life is important. The English are far supieripr to everyone else, don't you know?? And anyway if it means Jane and Joe have to stop eating meat every single day, or have to walk to the shop instead of drive, then frankly, all the Africans and Asains can di cause we most certainly aren't going to inconvenience ourselves for some foreigners!!!!!

[The above views are not mine, just a representation of what the majority of British people think apparently.]

Thebestwaytoscareatory

I do think there is some racism at play. Climate change is effecting and will affect those of colour more. I think, subconsciously, there is an ‘othering’ and a denial that it will affect wealthy white people. But it will.

I think privilege is at play for sure. Here is the UK we have come to take a certain standard of living for granted. We like to consume produce from far flung places, regardless of the impact on the community that produces it.

TooBigForMyBoots

My first ever GB’news’ article and my last. I may need to contact Trading Standards over their use of the word news’.

Even the Daily Fail managed to admit climate change is happening and that flights are carbon heavy.