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UK Faces Six Dire Climate Futures
18 Dec, 2025
Summary
- UK could face 6°C temperature drops due to ocean current collapse.
- Sea levels may rise over two metres by century's end.
- Extreme hot months could see temperatures soar 6°C above average.
New research from the University of Reading outlines six plausible worst-case climate scenarios for Britain, warning that the nation must prepare for potentially devastating impacts. These scenarios, though unlikely, are physically possible and demand awareness from policymakers.
Among the most alarming possibilities is a 6°C temperature drop by 2050 if global ocean currents, like the AMOC, collapse, potentially plunging Europe into a mini ice age. Conversely, enhanced global warming could raise average temperatures by 4°C, leading to severe heatwaves and droughts. Rapidly reduced aerosol pollution could also cause a temporary 0.75°C increase by 2040.
Furthermore, melting ice caps could cause sea levels to rise by up to 2.2 metres by the end of the century, inundating low-lying coastal areas and increasing flood risks. Extreme weather events, such as months with three times the average rainfall or seasons with only 10% of normal precipitation, could also occur at any time, threatening water supplies and infrastructure.
