British droughts and heatwaves predicted by 2080

CLIMATE change could lead to a rise in average summer temperatures in parts of Britain that is nearly double the level which the EU and others say is dangerous, a study said yesterday.

The government-backed report warned that southeast England could see a 3.9 Celsius rise in average summer temperatures by the 2080s unless global action was taken to curb planet-warming emissions.

That would lead to heatwaves, droughts, lower crop yields and more pests and disease, the long-awaited report by Britain’s leading climate change scientists said.