An event due to be held in London about extreme heat has been cancelled by organisers because of the extreme heat gripping the capital.
On Wednesday and Thursday this week, much of the south of England, including London, has been covered by a red weather warning as temperatures reach the high thirties.
Also on Wednesday, an event was scheduled to take place at the Shaw Library at the London School of Economics.
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Organised by the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, the event was titled Extreme Heat: Improving governance and strengthening action around the world.
However, it was cancelled by organisers because of the very thing it was set to discuss: extreme heat.
In a post on social media on Tuesday, the Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance wrote: “The event venue, like most buildings in London, does not have any cooling mechanisms in place, and we cannot risk the wellbeing of speakers or guests by subjecting everyone to very unpleasant indoor conditions in addition to hot journeys to the venue.
“Our apologies to everyone who was planning to attend the event. Thank you for your understanding – and if you are in London, please stay safe.”
The Met Office’s red weather warning for extreme heat and humidity this week came as temperatures of 37C in the shade were forecast. On Wednesday, the record was broken for the UK’s hottest ever June day as temperatures reached 36C in Wisley, Surrey.
The Zurich Climate Alliance said: “The magnitude of future impacts from extreme heat will largely depend on global mitigation efforts, local heat governance, and response plans.
“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.”