Britain’s New Climate Reality

London doesn’t feel like a wildfire city until it suddenly is. We’re joined by legendary BBC science editor David Shukman to talk about his book The Response and the uncomfortable truth behind Britain’s “new normal”: the disasters aren’t only getting worse, they’re arriving faster than our institutions can adapt.We dig into the 40°C heat warning and the damage mixed public messaging can do when emergency services are gearing up to save lives. David walks us through the chain of consequences that turns heat into catastrophe, from multiple blazes flaring around the capital to the Wennington fire, where crews reported weak water pressure at the moment it mattered most. We also explore flooding as a life-and-death threat, including what happens when extreme rain overwhelms drainage and sewage systems and traps people in basement flats.From there, the conversation widens to the forces that shape climate action: how oil companies have framed the debate, why “phase out” is different from “switch off,” and where electrification actually delivers quick wins through electric vehicles, batteries, and heat pumps. We also talk air pollution and the landmark case of Ella Kissi-Debrah, plus the difficult economics of prevention, flood defenses, and insurance in a warming world.If you care about climate change, climate adaptation, UK infrastructure, clean air, and realistic paths to net zero, this one is for you. Subscribe, share this with a friend who still thinks it’s “just weather,” and leave a review with the one change you want leaders to make first.