Grantham Institute - Climate Change and the Environment

Over 50,000 estimated to have died in urban areas during Europe’s sweltering summer in 2026, with climate change responsible for two thirds, finds two new studies by @lshtm.bsky.social @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social in @nathealth.nature.com @clairbarnes.bsky.social explains the findings 🎬 👇 [1/4]

Analysing 854 urban areas across 30 countries (EU-27, UK, Norway and Switzerland) researchers from Imperial College London and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that climate change is responsible for about two thirds of this summer’s estimated heat deaths. [3/4]

Over 50,000 estimated to have died in urban areas during Europe’s sweltering summer in 2026, with climate change responsible for two thirds, finds two new studies by @lshtm.bsky.social @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social in @nathealth.nature.com @clairbarnes.bsky.social explains the findings 🎬 👇 [1/4]

Urgent emissions cuts needed to come back from overshoot of 1.5°C, new UNEP report confirms. Co-authored by Profs @joerirogelj.bsky.social & Mirabelle Muuls, the report emphasises the huge growth of renewable energy but also the massive global scale-up required to get on track. 📘 buff.ly/sHUDpZ1

The authors reiterate that every fraction of additional warming raises climate risks, such as irreversible changes in ice sheets, permafrost carbon, ocean circulation, corals and more – with severe implications for human health and prosperity.

Urgent emissions cuts needed to come back from overshoot of 1.5°C, new UNEP report confirms. Co-authored by Profs @joerirogelj.bsky.social & Mirabelle Muuls, the report emphasises the huge growth of renewable energy but also the massive global scale-up required to get on track. 📘 buff.ly/sHUDpZ1

Published just weeks before COP31, the report argues that exceeding 1.5°C of global warming is unavoidable and that stringent and urgent cuts to emissions, alongside large-scale carbon dioxide removal, are necessary.

El Niño and climate change behind ‘explosive intensification’ of Hurricane Polo Study by @wwattribution.bsky.social finds that the role of climate change was at least as strong as El Niño in driving the environmental conditions that led to the storm rapidly gaining strength. buff.ly/KtnBOEz

Heavy rainfall trend: Rainfall extremes like Polo's have become about 6 times more likely and 57% more intense as the world has warmed, albeit with large uncertainties as many climate models struggle to simulate tropical cyclone rainfall in this region.

El Niño and climate change behind ‘explosive intensification’ of Hurricane Polo Study by @wwattribution.bsky.social finds that the role of climate change was at least as strong as El Niño in driving the environmental conditions that led to the storm rapidly gaining strength. buff.ly/KtnBOEz

Climate change and El Niño: Human-induced climate change made the conditions that fuelled Hurricane Polo roughly 23 times more likely, whereas El Niño made the conditions about 14 times more likely.

El Niño and climate change behind ‘explosive intensification’ of Hurricane Polo Study by @wwattribution.bsky.social finds that the role of climate change was at least as strong as El Niño in driving the environmental conditions that led to the storm rapidly gaining strength. buff.ly/KtnBOEz

Our briefing paper, published with the @edrc-uk.bsky.social, explores how far heat pump flexibility can be unlocked to deliver smarter, lower-carbon heating for homes while supporting energy networks: buff.ly/j71DbN8

The Government should work with Ofgem to drive forward the heating-as-a-service market, delegating the challenge of system complexity to a few companies supporting millions of consumers. 📸 Number 10/Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Our briefing paper, published with the @edrc-uk.bsky.social, explores how far heat pump flexibility can be unlocked to deliver smarter, lower-carbon heating for homes while supporting energy networks: buff.ly/j71DbN8

↕️The use of ground source heat pumps in district heating and cooling networks can help support both short-term flexibility (through thermal inertia) and seasonal heat storage (storing heat in the ground that has been captured through the cooling of properties during the summer months).

Our briefing paper, published with the @edrc-uk.bsky.social, explores how far heat pump flexibility can be unlocked to deliver smarter, lower-carbon heating for homes while supporting energy networks: buff.ly/j71DbN8

🤝Conversations about different ownership models for heating, including the potential for ‘heating as a service’, represent an opportunity to engage consumers on the benefits of flexible tariffs.

Our briefing paper, published with the @edrc-uk.bsky.social, explores how far heat pump flexibility can be unlocked to deliver smarter, lower-carbon heating for homes while supporting energy networks: buff.ly/j71DbN8

Heat pumps have proven themselves as scalable solutions to cut emissions, while providing efficient heating AND cooling for homes and buildings across the UK over recent years. However, there are concerns that electrifying heating make power system operation more challenging.

Countdown to COP31: Accelerating Action in a World of Extremes Join Professor @frediotto.bsky.social for our event, co-hosted with the European Union Delegation to the United Kingdom, to explore the priorities for stronger climate action at the upcoming COP & beyond. luma.com/qc4kzybs

Inequality a key driver of heat-related health risks in Italy A new study examining heat-related deaths across Italy reveals that heat risk is heavily dictated by social vulnerability and local environmental factors, with the highest rates in the south/southeast of the country. buff.ly/TJsQhd2

The findings highlight that heat adaptation plans must look beyond general temperature alerts to target specific vulnerable communities and disadvantaged local areas.

Event: Grantham Institute Annual Lecture 2026 with Anne Hidalgo Join the Grantham Institute & @annehidalgo.bsky.social, former Mayor of Paris, as she reflects on leading the green transformation of one of the world's largest cities. 📅Oct 27 ⏰17.30-20.30 📍Imperial College London buff.ly/Pqq7yAA

🔥 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗞 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗲𝗿𝗮 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿. 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘁... Thousands of people likely died due to heat-related causes in England & Wales this summer, essentially impossible without climate change: buff.ly/PwoQ5hF

The UK must also adapt to the reality of escalating climate hazards, utilising technology, investment, public information and community engagement. The UK is also well-placed to become a world leader in adaptation technologies and services. 👉 Read more: buff.ly/rPHuGaA

🔥 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗞 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗲𝗿𝗮 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿. 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘁... Thousands of people likely died due to heat-related causes in England & Wales this summer, essentially impossible without climate change: buff.ly/PwoQ5hF

The threats posed to lives and livelihoods, and the systems on which we rely, will further intensify as warming continues. UK emissions have halved since 1990 but more complex decarbonisation challenges lie ahead. 👉 Read why achieving net zero globally is necessary: buff.ly/V6ApUlv