Recordbreaking year is “clear evidence” of climate change but highlights poor government communication, says critic
The military were called in to help reinforce flood defences in February
(Pic: Ministry of Defence/Richard Cave)
By Megan Darby
The UK experienced its hottest ever year in 2014, provisional data shows.
The average temperature across the last twelve months was 9.9C, beating the 2006 record of 9.7C, the Met Office has revealed. Eight of the UK’s top ten warmest years have occurred since 2002.
Having kicked off with wintry storms and widespread flooding in January and February, 2014 was also the fourth wettest year on record.
“This is clear evidence of the impact of man-made climate change on the UK,” said Bob Ward, policy and communications director at LSE’s Grantham Research Institute.
Yet British citizens are largely unaware of their exposure to climate change, he warned, accusing the government of “a colossal failure” in communication.
An assessment by independent government advisors the Committee on Climate Change found most people living on floodplains do not believe they are at risk of flooding, for example.
The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) “has utterly failed to invest enough resources in communication about climate change,” said Ward.
Defra came under fire in early 2014 for cutting its flood defence budget, over a period during which scientists expect flood risk to rise due to climate change.
The extreme weather prompted prime minister David Cameron to announce emergency funds for flooding and label climate change a serious threat to the UK.
Ahead of last month’s climate change negotiations in Lima, the World Meteorological Organization said 2014 was likely to be the hottest ever year worldwide.
“There is no standstill in global warming,” said WMO head Michael Jarraud.