If Kate Moss is still designing for Topshop in 40 years, she might want to switch to paper-thin, self-cooling summer fabrics that can withstand piercing heat. According to a new scientific forecast issued by the British government and adjusted for global warming, the United Kingdom could experience weather conditions of Biblical proportions. Among the predictions mapped out by the Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research: In southeast England, summer rain could decrease by 20 percent by 2050, while in Scotland and northwest England, it could increase by the same amount. Temperatures across the land, meanwhile, could spike by 35 degrees, and, if carbon emissions remain high, the mercury could soar by an additional 46 degrees by the 2080s. Other concerns include warmer winters and rising sea levels, especially in the south.
If these dire conditions prove true — in the worst-case scenario, London could suffer 104 degree summers — the livelihood and landscape of England will dramatically change. Farmlands will thirst for water, city streets will sizzle and how ever will the Royal Horticultural Society’s Wisley Garden grow?
Though only speculative, the U.K. Climate Projections 2009 report is an important nudge for politicians and industries to create more climate-friendly practices and policies. Bryan Gray, chair of the Northwest Regional Development Agency, has already felt the poke, saying: “We welcome these new projections that provide us with a vital insight into the specific challenges our region will face. This will allow us to prepare our businesses and communities even more effectively though strong partnership working.” In August, British ministers will unveil a new strategy addressing climate and energy issues. Hopefully, gauzy T-shirts with icepack shoulder pads will not be one of them.
