{"text":[[{"start":10.3,"text":"Andy Burnham will convene an emergency meeting on Britain’s response to drought and extreme high temperatures as several regions of the country brace for a fifth heatwave this year."}],[{"start":22.55,"text":"Downing Street said the prime minister would chair a meeting of Cobra, the government’s emergency committee, on Wednesday to consider the UK’s response to the heat, wildfires and the drought that has affected much of the country."}],[{"start":35.9,"text":"The move comes as firefighters continue to tackle a wildfire in the New Forest, while many of the UK’s green spaces have been scorched by high temperatures. "}],[{"start":45.599999999999994,"text":"Nearly 26mn people are under hosepipe restrictions as the dry weather continues and a fifth of rivers in England are now classed as “exceptionally low”. Reservoir levels have fallen to 69 per cent and are now classed as below normal or lower, with five categorised as exceptionally low for this time of year."}],[{"start":63.99999999999999,"text":"“We know how challenging this summer is proving, particularly for firefighters tackling wildfires, farmers working in drought conditions and NHS staff in busy A&E units,” Number 10 said."}],[{"start":76,"text":"“We will continue to take the action needed to keep communities safe, protect water supplies and safeguard the environment.”"}],[{"start":83.05,"text":"The record for the number of days reaching 30C in any year has already been broken in 2026, according to the Met Office, the national weather service, with more high temperatures expected this week. There have been 35 days so far this year where the maximum daily temperature has exceeded 30C, beating the 34 days set in 1995. "}],[{"start":105,"text":"On Wednesday and Thursday, temperatures could peak in the mid- to high-30s."}],[{"start":109.65,"text":"By focusing on the extreme weather, Burnham is raising the political stakes for a major government decision — expected next month — on whether to approve new North Sea oil and gas drilling."}],[{"start":120.85000000000001,"text":"The prime minister has indicated he wants to take a “pragmatic” approach to the North Sea energy industry, but this summer’s heatwaves have intensified public concern about the need for action to tackle climate change."}],[{"start":133.5,"text":"The energy industry believes declining North Sea production could be eased by reforming what it describes as a punitive 78 per cent headline tax rate, while speeding up regulatory approvals for oil and gas fields such as Rosebank and Jackdaw. "}],[{"start":148,"text":"The process of approving these fields, which was challenged in the courts for not having considered the emissions caused by burning these fuels, is coming to a head as public consultations close this month."}],[{"start":158.85,"text":"That decision will land on the desk of energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh, who has previously argued for net zero targets to be brought forward, as early as next month."}],[{"start":169.15,"text":"The Cobra meeting will discuss water conservation measures, the problems facing firefighters tackling blazes and the advice being given to help people cope with high temperatures."}],[{"start":179.35,"text":"Number 10 cited examples of action being taken, such as £97mn of new funding to upgrade national firefighting capabilities with dedicated off-road vehicles and specialist equipment."}],[{"start":191.5,"text":"The government has previously announced plans to work with water companies to build nine new reservoirs, which will be the first to be built in more than 30 years."}],[{"start":200.3,"text":"Southern Water, which already has a hosepipe ban in place in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, applied for a rare non-domestic drought order application earlier this month to ban non-essential use including commercial car washing and filling swimming pools, saying an “exceptional” lack of rain has threatened supplies."}],[{"start":218.75,"text":"The company is also asking to be allowed to continue to abstract water from the River Test in Hampshire, a rare chalk stream, despite lower river levels. Environment secretary Angela Eagle will decide on the application."}],[{"start":231.8,"text":"Southern Water said the application was “precautionary” and did not necessarily mean it would go ahead with the plan if approved."}],[{"start":238.85000000000002,"text":"Farmers, who are harvesting crops at night because of the extreme temperatures, have warned repeatedly that delays in the planning system have stopped them from building reservoirs to manage hot weather."}],[{"start":250.35000000000002,"text":"Landowners struggled to receive permission both to construct and fill reservoirs, said the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), with only 34 on-farm reservoirs completed in the past five years."}],[{"start":261.6,"text":"Pippa Heylings, Liberal Democrat net zero spokesperson, said: “Emergency meetings alone will not put out fires or protect our communities — we urgently need a national strategy to make the UK climate-ready."}],[{"start":274.20000000000005,"text":"“Extreme weather warnings, widespread water shortages and wildfires raging across our countryside are a stark reminder that the climate crisis is gripping the country, yet the government is moving at a snail’s pace, waiting until the fifth heatwave this summer to act.”"}],[{"start":298.50000000000006,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1786528480_9920.mp3"}