UK Faces Unprecedented Rainfall as Climate Scientists Call for Urgent Action
Published 11 February 2026
Highlights
- Climate scientists gathered in Berkshire to discuss the urgent need for climate action, highlighting the UK's scientific leadership.
- The UK has experienced unprecedented rainfall, with some areas seeing rain for 40 consecutive days, aligning with climate change predictions.
- Public support for net zero targets is waning amid economic pressures, despite the increasing visibility of climate impacts.
- The Met Office reports that very wet winters are now occurring more frequently due to global warming.
- Experts emphasize the importance of lived experiences in driving public engagement with climate solutions.
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Rewritten Article
Headline: UK Faces Unprecedented Rainfall as Climate Scientists Call for Urgent Action
In a week marked by relentless rainfall and growing concerns over climate change, leading scientists convened in Berkshire to discuss strategies for tackling the climate crisis. Hosted by the University of Reading, the workshops brought together experts from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Met Office to deliberate on climate action for the coming decade.
Unprecedented Rainfall and Climate Patterns
The UK has been experiencing extraordinary weather patterns, with some regions enduring 40 consecutive days of rain. January 2026 was notably wet, with Northern Ireland recording its wettest January in 149 years, while Southern England saw its sixth wettest January since records began in 1836. Professor Rowan Sutton from the Met Office Hadley Centre noted that these conditions are consistent with expectations of climate change, driven by the accumulation of greenhouse gases.
Declining Support for Climate Policies
Despite the evident impacts of climate change, public support for net zero targets is diminishing. A recent study highlights a decline in urgency for climate policies, attributed to the UK's ongoing cost of living crisis. Damian Carrington, Guardian environment editor, explained that economic hardships, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war, have shifted public focus away from long-term climate issues.
Scientific Leadership and Public Engagement
The workshops in Berkshire underscored the UK's role in scientific leadership. Professor Sir Jim Skea, Chair of the IPCC, emphasized the importance of these discussions in guiding future climate action. Meanwhile, Professor Ed Hawkins from the University of Reading used a visual representation of global temperature changes to illustrate the stark reality of climate change. Vice-chair of the IPCC's working group, Sherilee Harper, stressed the significance of lived experiences in motivating individuals to participate in climate solutions.
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Scenario Analysis
As the UK grapples with extreme weather and economic challenges, the path forward for climate action remains complex. Experts suggest that integrating climate policies with economic recovery plans could bolster public support. The government may need to prioritize communication strategies that highlight the immediate benefits of climate action, such as job creation in green industries. Additionally, fostering community-led initiatives could empower individuals to contribute to climate solutions, bridging the gap between awareness and action.
In a week marked by relentless rainfall and growing concerns over climate change, leading scientists convened in Berkshire to discuss strategies for tackling the climate crisis. Hosted by the University of Reading, the workshops brought together experts from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Met Office to deliberate on climate action for the coming decade.
Unprecedented Rainfall and Climate Patterns
The UK has been experiencing extraordinary weather patterns, with some regions enduring 40 consecutive days of rain. January 2026 was notably wet, with Northern Ireland recording its wettest January in 149 years, while Southern England saw its sixth wettest January since records began in 1836. Professor Rowan Sutton from the Met Office Hadley Centre noted that these conditions are consistent with expectations of climate change, driven by the accumulation of greenhouse gases.
Declining Support for Climate Policies
Despite the evident impacts of climate change, public support for net zero targets is diminishing. A recent study highlights a decline in urgency for climate policies, attributed to the UK's ongoing cost of living crisis. Damian Carrington, Guardian environment editor, explained that economic hardships, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war, have shifted public focus away from long-term climate issues.
Scientific Leadership and Public Engagement
The workshops in Berkshire underscored the UK's role in scientific leadership. Professor Sir Jim Skea, Chair of the IPCC, emphasized the importance of these discussions in guiding future climate action. Meanwhile, Professor Ed Hawkins from the University of Reading used a visual representation of global temperature changes to illustrate the stark reality of climate change. Vice-chair of the IPCC's working group, Sherilee Harper, stressed the significance of lived experiences in motivating individuals to participate in climate solutions.
What this might mean
As the UK grapples with extreme weather and economic challenges, the path forward for climate action remains complex. Experts suggest that integrating climate policies with economic recovery plans could bolster public support. The government may need to prioritize communication strategies that highlight the immediate benefits of climate action, such as job creation in green industries. Additionally, fostering community-led initiatives could empower individuals to contribute to climate solutions, bridging the gap between awareness and action.
