Heatwaves in 2023 show it's time for Scotland to adapt

Before I permanently relocated here, when I proudly announced, “I am spending my summer break in Scotland,” they would all give me that look, half-pitying, half-amused.

They thought I was crazy for choosing the dreary weather and the best-case scenario of 18 degrees when they were jetting off to Italy or Greece to chase the blazing sun around the Mediterranean.

If we had this conversation this summer, I do not think they would be laughing at all.

This summer, it feels like the world has turned into an oven. The Mediterranean, once the darling of tourists, has turned into a fiery inferno, with temperatures reaching unbearable heights.

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Back then, I just liked the idea of Scotland’s rugged landscapes, unique charm, and I was looking forward to satisfying my haggis cravings.

But now, I know one thing: more and more people are avoiding the once idyllic beach destinations turned hotbeds of discomfort and danger in favour of places where they can enjoy their long-awaited summer break without feeling like they are roasting on a spit.

The World Health Organisation is ringing alarm bells, warning us that heatwaves are putting us at risk.

Athens feels like a gateway to hell, and forest fires are scarring the landscape. Italy is suffocating. My friends living in flats in big cities in France are at a loss of solutions to have temperatures below 27 degrees at night.

This is what it means when experts say climate change is turning the Earth into an unliveable place.

Will this year’s heatwave, finally, be an eye-opener? Let us hope so

Maybe, as we look in horror at the temperatures in southern Europe, we will collectively rethink our way of travelling.

Tourism suffers from the extreme heatwave, but it is also a major contributor to it.

All those flights and emissions are only adding fuel to the fire of climate change. It will be a tough pill to swallow for a lot of us, but if we are serious about limiting global warming to 1.5°C, we might have to rethink our approach to mass tourism.

This year, my summer plans are a bit different. I will be flying to our family holiday destination in the south of France, where my husband’s family has been going for the past 40 years.

It is a chance to spend time with them and, honestly, enjoy some much-needed free babysitting in the mornings so this worn-out mum can sleep until 9am!

But we will be taking the train back to Scotland. This promises to be an interesting journey, with a very lively toddler in tow…

Taking the train to and from France is a bit of a splurge, if I am being honest

It can be quite expensive, even with a travel card in the UK. And do not even get me started on Eurostar prices – they make me want to cry actual tears of blood. However, it is so much nicer than flying. I would rather endure a busy train station than a busy airport, arrive in the city centre and take public transportation to be home quickly.

On the train, it is like you are already on holiday. And it has a good excuse to have a meal and a drink at the pub we love between St Pancras and Kings Cross!

I am lucky that I can afford to make these kinds of adaptations to fight climate change. Moreover, being young, healthy, and financially comfortable, I am not among the people who will suffer the most from extreme temperatures.

The cost of doing nothing is getting higher and higher. And who does it hit the hardest?

The poorest people, of course, who are already struggling to shield themselves from the effects of global warming. They do not have fancy, well-insulated apartments with AC to escape the heat.

The ones who are hit first and hit the hardest are the ones who can least afford to protect themselves.

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In Scotland, we may feel relatively shielded from all this, but here too, we need to adapt. Learning to adapt to the changing climate is crucial, and it is not just limited to the Mediterranean.

Climate change impacts are felt worldwide, and the recent news about the low water level in Loch Ness due to below-average rainfall is a stark reminder of that fact. Even in Scotland, a place known for its abundant rain, we are seeing the effects of altered weather patterns.

This is the reality we all need to face – climate change is happening everywhere, and it is affecting all of us. From extreme heatwaves in the Mediterranean to the drying up of Loch Ness, which was widely covered in the French press, the signs are evident.

As the planet’s climate continues to evolve, we must adapt our lifestyles, travel choices, and attitudes to ensure a sustainable future for ourselves and the generations to come.

These extreme weather events we are experiencing are going to be the new norm

According to a scientific study, kids born in 2020 are going to face seven times more heatwaves, twice as many wildfires and droughts, and three times more floods and crop failures compared to those born in 1960.

We cannot bury our heads in the sand and hope for the best. We cannot choose between reducing emissions and adapting to the inevitable impacts of climate change. It is a package deal and we need to do both, urgently.

No matter how much we cut back on emissions, some changes are already set in motion, and we have to get ready for them.

Adaptation is not a message of defeat or inaction. It is about facing reality head-on and taking responsibility for the future.

The world is changing, and we need to be prepared. If we turn a blind eye to the challenges ahead, we are just fooling ourselves. It is time to step up and embrace the changes that are coming our way.

Sure, it will not be an easy road, and it is a difficult, utterly terrifying message to hear. Climate change is transforming how we live and interact with our planet.

So, let us face the truth: the impacts of climate change are here, and they are only going to intensify. We can no longer afford to live in denial or carry on with “business as usual”.

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It is time to break free from the shackles of complacency and take meaningful action to combat this global crisis.

Experts from various fields have been sounding the alarm for years, and their message is clear: we have the solutions to mitigate the worst effects of climate change, but what we lack is the political will to implement them effectively.

We have a real opportunity to make a difference, and specifically on the topic of holidays, it starts with redefining our approach to travel. We need to give alternatives to flying and promote a culture change that makes travelling by train more attractive, feasible, and affordable.

In continental Europe, night trains are making a strong comeback, providing an eco-friendly and comfortable way to travel long distances while also reducing the carbon footprint.

It is heartening to see this positive shift towards sustainable travel options, and I would love to see that happen in Scotland and the UK too.