All of Wales declared in drought: comment

Commenting on Natural Resource Wales’s confirmation that all of Wales is in drought, [1] Laura Dunn, Senior Associate at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), said: “This is another undeniable demonstration of the very real toll that climate change is taking on Wales. These exceptionally dry and hot conditions will have especially profound consequences for farmers who are on the frontlines of this crisis, coming in quick succession after last year’s drought, which was in turn followed by one of the wettest winters on record. This could have real impacts on livelihoods, food supply and nature. 
 
"Experts are clear that climate change is making this kind of extreme and prolonged heat thirty times more likely, [2] and that, until we reach tackle the root cause of climate change, things will only get worse. Without significant progress in cutting our emissions to net zero, the scorching temperatures we’ve seen this summer risks becoming our new normal”. 

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8jn1v37znvo
2. Effects of climate change

For more information or for interview requests:

George Smeeton, Head of Communications, ECIU, Tel: 020 8156 5305, M: 07894 571 153, email: george.smeeton@eciu.net