UK health secretary says 'no doubt' climate change driving heat waves

UK Health Secretary Yvette Cooper said on Monday there is "no doubt" that climate change is driving increasingly severe heat waves across Britain and the world, as England and Wales recorded their driest July on record and health authorities issued alerts with temperatures forecast to reach 35C (95F).

Immediate action and long-term goals

Speaking to broadcasters, Cooper said governments must address both the immediate effects of extreme heat and the underlying causes of global warming. "There's no doubt we are seeing the impact of climate change, not just here in the UK, but also we've seen that across Europe, we've seen that across the world as well," she said, emphasizing that collective action is required.

Balancing energy needs

Cooper highlighted the challenge of maintaining energy security while tackling emissions, amid renewed debate over North Sea oil and gas production. "It means we have got to make sure that we've got both affordable energy and also that we are tackling climate change, and we have to be able to do both because we've seen the consequences all across the globe," she said.

International transition urged

The health secretary added that the UK must continue working internationally to accelerate the shift toward renewable energy sources. England and Wales recorded their driest July on record, with the current heat wave expected to push temperatures to 35C across much of the country on Monday.