A GRAPHIC from the University of Reading has been a big part of another major event in efforts to continue stress the importance of action on environmental issues.
The Climate Stripes graphic, now an internationally-recognised as a symbol of climate change, was produced by Professor Ed Hawkins at the university.
It has been projected on the cliffs at Dover, featured in London Fashion Week, and even been photographed alongside the Pope.
Last weekend the stripes were shown at the London Marathon, where tens of thousands of runners jogged past the graphic.
Banners were displayed on posts along the route as well as along the spectator barriers.
The message “1850 – London is Warming” was also painted onto the road in parts of the route.
The blue and red stripes represent the yearly global temperature compared to the average, with blue stripes representing cooler than average years and red representing warmer than average years.
It uses data dating back to 1850 and saw an update with interim data from last year after the Met Office confirmed it would be the hottest on record for parts of the UK.
The year before, 2022, was the second hottest for the UK as a whole, and the hottest ever seen in Wales and Northern Ireland.
This meant that the darkest shade of red in the graphic’s scale will need to be used, and the continued rise in global temperatures will require a “whole new colour” to express the extent of climate change graphically, Professor Hawkins explained back in January.
Professor Hawkins said following the event: “The incredible dedication of the London Marathon runners and their commitment to making a difference was truly inspiring to see.
“However, just as the Marathon runners pushed themselves to their limits, we must also push ourselves to take bold and immediate action against climate change.
“The climate stripes displayed at the end of the Marathon served as a stark reminder that our planet is warming at an alarming rate.”
He explained: “London, like many cities around the world, is experiencing the consequences of rising temperatures–we are in a race against time to prevent further warming and protect ourselves and future generations from the devastating impacts of climate change.
“It is crucial that we work together, with the same determination and unity displayed by the runners, to address this global crisis before it’s too late.
“The race to combat climate change is the most critical one we will ever face.”
