Starmer government’s inaction and recklessness are the cause of summer climate crisis in the UK

With one of the wettest climates among European countries, the UK has not invested enough in water infrastructure for years. Given the population growth and severe climate change, it faces a profound structural crisis. UK government officials have arranged an emergency meeting to deal with the upcoming summer climate crisis in the UK. Britain is facing a serious drought challenge after a winter and spring with little rainfall. The country is already experiencing significant reductions in water reserves. This article examines the drought crisis in England, which is in a state of emergency. In this context, the role of financial institutions in exacerbating the climate crisis in the UK will be discussed.

Environment Ministry meeting to deal with drought crisis.

The UK Environment Secretary announced that the National Drought Group, consisting of water supply companies, farmers, and experts in this field, has organized a meeting to plan how to deal with the country’s drought crisis. Meteorological and environmental experts warn that if there is no significant rainfall in the coming weeks, British citizens will face severe restrictions on water consumption this summer.

Summer climate crisis in the UK with a record decrease in rainfall

The approaching summer climate crisis in the UK has made news at a time when, according to popular perceptions, this country is famous for its continuous rainfall, and cloudy and rainy weather. However, specialized institutions in the UK have announced that rainfall has decreased to an unprecedented level since the beginning of 2025. England’s water reserves and groundwater tables are now lower than usual in many areas. According to the Met Office, spring rainfall in the Thames area around London has fallen to less than 13% of the seasonal average. The sharp drop in rainfall is a worrying sign of the summer climate crisis in the UK.

Declining water levels in British reservoirs

According to the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH), UK reservoir levels are now an average of 10% below normal for this time of year. In the northwest of the country, for example, the water level of the large Haweswater reservoir, which in normal years should be above 95% at this time of year, has fallen to around 62%.

Water companies ask Britons to use less water!

Major water companies in the UK, including Thames Water, which supplies water to London and the surrounding areas, have asked residents of the capital to reduce their water consumption. If water consumption trends continue, the risk of water restrictions for Britons is serious. The restrictions include a possible ban on garden hoses and possible rationing in the summer.

The worrying climate change in the UK over the past decade

Although April 2025 was one of the hottest and driest months in the UK, this is not unusual. In fact, over the past decade, hot and dry periods have become more frequent in British summers. Climate experts believe that this phenomenon is not a one-off event. This is a direct result of climate change, which poses serious challenges for countries worldwide.

Reasons for the UK water crisis

One of the main reasons for the current situation is the historical neglect of renovation in water management infrastructure. No new dams or reservoirs have been built in the UK since 1991, more than 30 years ago. During this time, the country’s population has increased significantly. The UK government has also acknowledged that the country’s water infrastructure has not been developed as it should have been over the past decades. “After years of failure, this government has inherited a crumbling water system which population growth and climate change are putting a tremendous strain on,” a Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson said.

UK government steps up water crisis response.

The UK government has announced a massive £104 billion investment plan to improve water infrastructure. The government is also building nine new reservoirs, but it will take years for these measures to take effect. British officials hope to overcome the summer climate crisis in the UK without serious problems by imposing emergency restrictions. They are trying to get the public to participate in reducing water use. However, experts warn that the country’s management and infrastructure approach to the water crisis must fundamentally change. If fundamental changes are not made, the current water crisis will become a structural and long-term crisis.

The UK government’s inconsistent response to the climate crisis

The unprecedented heatwave on May 1 in Britain’s history and widespread warnings about the risk of fires, drownings, and early heatwave damage, combined with the publication of a controversial report into the financial role of British banks in supporting massive fossil fuel projects, have painted a contradictory picture of the performance of the country’s government and financial institutions in the face of the climate crisis. The temperature in London reached 28 degrees Celsius on May 1 at the famous Kew Gardens. The previous record was set in 1990 in the Lossiemouth region of Scotland, which was recorded at 27.4 degrees.

The UK government’s negligence in solving climate problems is the cause of the worsening drought crisis.

Britain is facing a serious contradiction in its climate policies. The unprecedented crisis of water shortages and rising temperatures and the publication of a report on British banks’ financial support for polluting projects highlight this contradiction. The Summer climate crisis in the UK is very close, but the Starmer government is not playing a significant role in solving it. While the government has put pressure on the public with strict climate laws, London’s financial institutions continue to fuel the roots of the crisis. The UK government’s lack of investment in water supply infrastructure will be problematic for the British shortly. The Starmer government has not taken any new measures to solve the drought and water shortage crisis. The evidence shows that serious action is urgently needed to address water scarcity. Without urgent action, the UK will quickly experience the negative consequences of water scarcity due to rising temperatures.