Litany of weather extremes challenged wildlife in 2022, National Trust says

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy This year’s “litany” of weather extremes, including storms, drought and record-breaking heat, is set to become the new norm, the National Trust has warned. The ‘new normal’ is also likely to result in even more extreme weather events than now Keith Jones, National Trust Keith Jones, climate change adviser at the National Trust, said: “There is no escaping that this year’s weather has been challenging for nature. “It is a stark illustration of the sort of difficulties many of our species will face if we don’t do more to mitigate rising temperatures and helping nature’s survival.” He added: “Weather experts predict that the future will see more torrential downpours, along with very dry and hot summers, with 2022 setting a benchmark for what a ‘typical’ year for weather could be like. “But the ‘new normal’ is also likely to result in even more extreme weather events than now.” Ben McCarthy, head of nature conservation and restoration ecology at the National Trust, said: “Our wildlife is under extraordinary pressure from a number of sources such as habitat loss and pollution.