Charlie Alford

Greyhound racing during heatwave prompts concerns

Post author:The Canary
Post published:8 July 2026
Post last modified:9 July 2026

Animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports has accused the greyhound racing industry of putting profits before the health of greyhounds by pushing ahead with racing during the current heatwave. It comes as the RSPCA urges dog owners to make an urgent change to their routines this coming week as another spell of extremely hot weather will see temperatures reaching 34C. Emily Lawrence, campaigns manager at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: Greyhound racing is already inherently hazardous, but to race greyhounds in extreme hot weather is putting them in danger and is in clear breach of animal welfare advice.…

Government urged to legislate on maximum working temperature amid third heatwave

Post author:The Canary
Post published:7 July 2026
Post last modified:8 July 2026

Pressure on the UK government to set a maximum working temperature is mounting as a third heatwave hits Britain, with ministers now apparently considering legislation for the first time. In the last week of June 2026, over 1,500 people took part in a Heat Strike. They set up Cool Stations to hand out water and health advice in town centres from Exeter to York. Strikers held symbolic lunchtime-walk-outs in solidarity with those in extreme heat, and took thermometers into work to demonstrate how hot and unsafe it was. Workers take the initiative over maximum working temperature In London, bus drivers removed themselves…

‘Sunbathers’ protest new oil outside Parliament amidst heatwave

Post author:The Canary
Post published:7 July 2026
Post last modified:7 July 2026

Campaigners from Fossil Free London protested new oil and gas in Parliament Square on 7 July as the third heatwave of the summer hits London. They wore matching red swimming costumes and lay on white towels, imitating popular media images of beachgoers in hot weather. Each sunbather waved a ‘Stop Rosebank’ fan and behind them a large banner read ‘No New Oil & Gas’. The protest comes as the UK just experienced its hottest June ever. And uncertainty lingers over whether Andy Burnham will approve the Rosebank and Jackdaw North Sea oil fields once he becomes prime minister. Heatwave after heatwave…

Polluters must pay for European heatwave costs

Post author:The Canary
Post published:30 June 2026
Post last modified:1 July 2026

Fossil fuel companies must be held responsible for the extreme heatwave gripping Europe. Campaigners from 350.org say they should pay permanent windfall taxes to help cover the mounting health costs. A new study by World Weather Attribution found that climate change is “unequivocally” the driving force behind Europe’s record-breaking heatwave. The study found that: Heatwave temperatures would have been “virtually impossible” to occur at this time just 50 years ago. Overnight temperatures are about 100x more likely today. Almost half of more than 800 cities across 30 European countries have broken, or are likely to break, heat stress levels. UN climate…

Heatwave: Greens call for emergency meeting of EU leaders

Post author:The Canary
Post published:26 June 2026
Post last modified:26 June 2026

Amid a record-breaking heatwave across the continent, European environment ministers met in Luxembourg on 25 June. The European Green Party is calling on the ministers to prepare an emergency meeting of EU government leaders to urgently strengthen Europe’s climate protections and the Green Deal. Ciarán Cuffe, co-chair of the European Green Party, said: This heatwave is rapidly turning into a major European public health crisis. The World Health Organization stated already earlier this month that over the last four years, more than 200,000 people in Europe have died due to extreme heat. Europe faces a clear choice: to weaken or strengthen…

Private water company leaves thousands dry amid record May heatwave

Post author:Cameron Baillie
Post published:30 May 2026
Post last modified:8 June 2026

One privately-owned water company left thousands of people in south-east England dry and thirsty this week. This comes amid one of Britain’s hottest-ever May heatwaves. South East Water, which covers much of Kent, left over 8,000 people without any tap water. The company claimed that nearby reservoirs at Whitstable were at a “critical level” due to “extremely high demand”. The company’s six-figure CEO David Hinton stepped down from his position in early May over consistent failures, shortages and outages but will remain in-post to allow an orderly transition over the summer period. That and, presumably, to keep earning a slice of…