\n<\/p>\n
Referring to Wales’ heatwave in May, Gagen said it was “really unusual to have two in a row”.<\/p>\n
“Actually, for me on a personal level, as I’m walking around, it feels like the first time in my life that I can physically feel climate change.<\/p>\n
“And it’s quite frightening, actually. It’s an uncomfortable experience.”<\/p>\n
Mary said the country would experience “tropical nights” caused by a “heat dome” effect.<\/p>\n
“Each one of those events, whilst, sure, it’s a feature of a heatwave and we do get heatwaves in this country, each of them has a climate change element behind it that’s making it more intense,” she said.<\/p>\n
“It’s preparedness, it’s having cool spaces in our cities. It’s having buildings that can cope with the heat.<\/p>\n
“And we are really learning in this heat event that we are absolutely not prepared. We’re seeing school closures. If you are trying to manage ill people on a ward in our hospitals that doesn’t have air conditioning, you’re going to find this very uncomfortable.<\/p>\n
“So, we really have a long way to go. Our infrastructure is absolutely not prepared for this.”<\/p>\n
In response the Welsh government said it was “committed to addressing the climate emergency”.<\/p>\n
“In line our manifesto and 100-day plan, we have begun work on a new Climate and Nature Plan which will set out the actions to realise our net zero 2040 ambition, and to ensure substantive nature recovery by 2050,” the statement added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n