来源：《每日电讯报》
原文刊登日期：2022年7月12日
Record heat is being forecast, with temperatures expected to rise above 38°C in the South. The heatwave was under way yesterday when 33°C was reached at Heathrow airport, higher than average but not unusual in a typical British summer. Anything approaching 40°C would be unprecedented, however.
据预测，南方气温将超过38°C，创历史新高。昨天，希思罗机场的气温达到33摄氏度，高于平均水平，但在典型的英国夏季并不罕见。然而，任何接近40°C的温度都是前所未有的。
The obvious caveat needs to be entered: in a maritime country such as ours, predicting the weather a week ahead is a mug’s game and, indeed, the Met Office is hedging its bets, saying that several meteorological conditions need to be met for the record of 38.7°C to be broken.
需要注意的是：在我们这样的海洋国家，预测未来一周的天气是一场徒劳的游戏，事实上，英国气象局在两面下注，称要打破38.7°C的纪录，需要满足几种气象条件。
Inevitably, anything exceptional nowadays is attributed to global warming, even though we have had hot, dry weather before. Warnings are already being issued, with people being urged to stay indoors, avoid direct exposure to the sun lest it burns and to “sleep under a sheet” to lessen nighttime discomfort. It is not that this advice is fatuous but we already know it and do not need to be constantly reminded by a bunch of semi-official, self-appointed fusspots.
尽管我们以前经历过炎热干燥的天气，但如今任何异常都不可避免地归因于全球变暖。已经有警告，敦促人们待在室内，避免直接暴露在阳光下，以免晒伤，并“盖上床单睡觉”，以减轻夜间不适。不是说这个建议是愚蠢的，但我们早已知道这些，不需要一群半官方的、自封的小题大做者不断提醒。
Nonetheless, if the climate is changing then we need to be ready for it. All government effort is being expended on what might prove to be a forlorn attempt to reverse warming when it should more pragmatically be focused on adapting to its consequences.
尽管如此，如果气候正在变化，那么我们需要为此做好准备。政府所有的努力都花在了扭转气候变暖的努力上，而实际上政府应该更务实地专注于适应气候变暖的后果。
Among the impacts could be frequent droughts. But two water companies have already issued warnings about hosepipe bans and the resilience to cope with long-term shortages is questionable. More reservoirs and desalination plants are needed and the feasibility of a water grid should be considered.
其中一个影响可能是频繁的干旱。但两家水务公司已经发布了关于软管禁令的警告，应对长期短缺的适应力也值得怀疑。需要更多的水库和海水淡化厂，并应考虑水网的可行性。