Wildfires 'stark reminder' of extreme climate challenge, says William

Wildfires 'stark reminder' of extreme climate challenge, says William Image source, PA MediaByJamie Whitehead Published6 minutes agoWildfires in the UK and Europe are a "stark reminder of the challenges posed by an increasingly extreme climate", the Prince of Wales has said.More than 300,000 people have so far been evacuated from parts of France and Spain as wildfires continue to rage on the continent, with another intense heatwave on the way.In Scotland a major incident was declared at the weekend as a result of a major wildfire in the Cairngorms, while a number of smaller fires have burned elsewhere in the UK.Prince William wrote in a post on X: "Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the devastating wildfires across France, Spain and the UK.""We are deeply grateful to the firefighters, emergency services and volunteers working tirelessly in extraordinarily difficult conditions."These events are a stark reminder of the challenges posed by an increasingly extreme climate and the importance of protecting both people and nature."Climate change is driving up temperatures around the world - but particularly in Europe. It is the fastest warming continent, heating up twice as fast as the global average, according to the Copernicus climate service.This is causing increased summer heatwaves, greater pressure on Europe's water supply, and more intense wildfires.Wildfires are currently tearing through France and Spain.France has seen its worst fires in two decades, while officials in the Spanish capital Madrid say they are the worst the region has ever experienced.In the UK, an assessment by the Met Office showed that fires could be exceptionally severe by Wednesday if they were to start in parts of London, the south east or the east of England as a result of hot, dry conditions.London Fire Brigade said it dealt with more than 1,300 incidents over the weekend - including grass fires, property fires and rescuing a person f...