‘London isn’t just calling—it’s cooking.’ Europe’s largest economies face over $600 billion in heat-driven losses by 2030

Woman hides from the sun in front of Big Ben in London (Credit: Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images)

On Tuesday, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a speech at London’s Climate Week. Climate activists could not have hoped for a better day for the UN chief to step up to the podium.

With temperatures pushing into the high 90s in London (that’s above 30 for the Celsius heads), Tuesday went down as the city’s hottest June day on record. The British meteorological service has issued a rare red warning for extreme heat in the days forward, classifying the coming wave as a risk to life. Schools have been forced to close across the southern U.K., and train operators have reduced service and urged passengers to stay at home.