Human-driven climate change lies at the heart of this deeply upsetting moment
Reading Climate Change Partnership* would like to acknowledge the unprecedented wildfires in the UK and abroad. Many communities are facing total upheaval, loss and devastation. Families are being displaced, livelihoods destroyed, and precious natural environments lost to fires made more likely and more intense by a changing climate.
Human-driven climate change lies at the heart of this deeply upsetting moment. While we cannot prevent every extreme weather event, we can learn from what is happening now and take action together to reduce risks, strengthen our resilience, and protect the places and people we cherish.
Global heating – caused primarily by human choices that shape our use of fossil fuels, land and water – is loading the dice towards more extreme heat, increased risk of flooding, drought and more dangerous wildfire conditions, and every additional fraction of a degree of warming increases the risks we face.
Unfortunately, these risks have not been clearly communicated in our national media.
For example, the UK’s Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit analysed nearly 2,500 stories about the June 2026 heatwave across nine major UK national outlets. It found that 72% of the stories made no reference at all to climate change. Fewer than one in 20 mentioned net zero.
Reading Climate Change Partnership is committed to bringing local people together to confront the realities of climate change openly and honestly. We are pleased to offer a framework of action plans and working groups to help residents, community groups, businesses, charities and local authorities address the causes and effects and climate change together.
Let these events be a reminder that climate change is not a distant challenge. It is here, and it demands a collective response. By coming together, supporting one another and taking practical action, we can help build a safer, more resilient and climate-friendly Reading.
Actions we can take today to prepare for drought and flooding, help prevent fires, reduce our collective contribution to the causes of global heating and drive a proportionate national response:
Use less water
– Take shorter showers and turn off taps while brushing your teeth.
– Fix dripping taps and leaking toilets as soon as possible.
– Run washing machines and dishwashers only when full.
– Collect grey water and rainwater for outdoor plants.
– Water gardens early in the morning or late in the evening to reduce evaporation.
– Reduce unnecessary lawn watering; consider longer-term changes like replacing some lawn with wildflowers or drought-tolerant plants.
– Be mindful of water use during prolonged dry periods.
Help prevent wildfires
– Never discard cigarettes, matches or BBQ coals on dry grass or vegetation.
– Avoid disposable barbecues in parks and open spaces during hot, dry weather.
– Dispose of glass bottles safely; they can focus sunlight and ignite dry vegetation.
– Report fires or signs of smoke immediately.
– Create a buffer around homes by clearing dry leaves, dead plants and other combustible materials.
– Follow local advice during heatwaves and periods of high fire risk.
– Teach children about fire safety in parks, woodlands and open spaces.
Prepare for heavy rain and flooding
– Keep drains, gutters and water channels around your property clear of leaves and debris.
– Install water butts and rain gardens to slow the flow of rainwater into drains.
– Consider permeable paving, gravel or planted areas instead of hard surfaces where possible.
– Find out whether your area is at risk of surface water flooding and have a plan in place.
– Prepare an emergency kit with essential medication, phone chargers and important documents.
– Check on vulnerable neighbours during severe weather events.
– Avoid driving through floodwater and follow official warnings when they are issued.
Help address the causes of climate change and strengthen collective impacts
– Use less energy, e.g. by reducing heat loss from homes and buildings in winter and by reducing unwanted heat gain in summer.
– Switch to renewable energy where possible, or support local initiatives such as Reading Community Energy Society and DraughtBusters.
– Replace some car journeys with walking, cycling or public transport, where possible.
– Reduce beef and dairy in your diet and avoid food waste.
– Support the National Emergency Briefing‘s People’s Emergency Briefing documentary campaign to help inspire a mass public response to climate change and a proportionate response from Government.
– Support local initiatives and working groups that are helping Reading prepare for climate change and reducing the town’s contribution to its causes.
– Consider making use of (and supporting) local circular economy initiatives, including Reading Repair Café, Reading Library of Things, Reading Bike Hub and Connect Reading’s Resource X-Change.
Together we can:
– Reduce pressure on our water resources
– Lower the risk of accidental fires
– Build resilience to more intense rainfall and flooding events
– Protect our neighbours, our environment and the places we love
– Increase our community’s positive collective impacts and grow demand for local climate solutions.
Small actions taken by many people can make a big difference. By preparing and acting today, Reading can be safer, more resilient and more climate-friendly tomorrow.
Find out more about the Reading Climate Action Plan for 2025 – 2030 and related working groups at www.readingcan.org.uk/ourplan25-30
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Reading Climate Change Partnership (RCCP) convenes Reading’s 5-year climate emergency strategies, action plans and working groups, runs the annual Reading Climate Festival and hosts the ReadingCAN website, newsletter and social media channels. Find out more at www.readingcan.org.uk
