Research suggests that temperatures above 28°C (82.4°F) can affect soccer players’ performance — especially how fast, far, or frequently they run during a match. This can influence a team’s overall match strategy and style of play.

Ultimately, it could be harder for players to reach their peak performance during a match because of hotter temperatures. And teams with styles of play that rely on speed and repeated sprinting could face a disadvantage.

The analysis from Climate Central shows that climate change is making it more likely there will be temperatures high enough during most matches (97 out of 104) to negatively affect athlete performance. Nearly half of the matches (49) have at least a 50% likelihood of taking place during performance-impairing heat, the research found. In 26 of those matches, climate change increases the likelihood by at least 10 percentage points.

Among all matches, conditions for the match on 26 June in Guadalajara between Uruguay and Spain are most affected, with the 70% chance of performance-impairing heat 37 percentage points higher due to climate change.

And when it comes to the final, scheduled for 19 July at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey (known as New York New Jersey Stadium by FIFA), whichever teams are lucky enough to go that far will face a 47% likelihood of performance-impairing heat — odds that are about 17 percentage points higher because of climate change.

As well as affecting match strategy and how hard and fast players approach the game, extreme heat can pose a serious health risk, the Climate Central researchers point out, especially when combined with high humidity.

To keep players, fans, and staff safe, World Cup organisers are adapting to the rising heat risks by scheduling more evening matches in hotter cities as well as imposing mandatory hydration breaks at all 104 matches. Matches may be postponed if the web-bulb globe temperature (a measurement of humid heat) hits 32°C (89.6°F) to minimise risks of heat stress.

Another factor to be taken into account is that most stadiums are open-air, leaving players and millions of fans exposed to peak summer heat. Only three stadiums are fully climate-controlled (Atlanta, Dallas, and Houston). Fans as well as players then, should take sensible precautions to guard against heat stroke and sunburn, including drinking plenty of water, using suitably protective suncream and hats, and limiting exertion during the hottest parts of the day.

L’article Climate change has heightened risk of dangerous heat at 2026 World Cup est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

El Niño and La Niña are opposite phases of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), one of the most powerful natural climate patterns on Earth. The phase Earth is approaching is El Niño. It sees ocean surface temperatures warm up in the central and eastern Equatorial Pacific. It typically occurs every two to seven years and lasts around nine to twelve months, developing between March and June and reaching its peak between November and February, with impacts on global temperatures typically being most pronounced in the second year after development.

This year, above-average temperatures are forecast nearly everywhere for June to August 2026, with an 80% likelihood of an El Niño event during the period. Probabilities for this to continue until at least November are near or above 90%, the WMO says. When the peak El Niño will hit is still uncertain, but models suggest conditions will be moderate to strong when it does, and that it will exacerbate the effects of climate change that are already being experienced in many parts of the world.

For citizens and travellers, if this coming year sees a strong event, America, Southeast Asia, and Australia will experience long spells of hot, dry weather in which the chance of droughts and wildfires goes up. With the Men’s FIFA World Cup playing out between mid-June and mid-July across Mexico, the US, and Canada, this could also mean some unbearably hot conditions for players and spectators. Staying hydrated, in the shade, and avoiding the hottest parts of the day are essential, especially for vulnerable individuals with underlying conditions.

In India, the monsoon season may be less intense than usual, but the southern US could suffer heavy rainfall and flooding, as warmer Pacific waters heat up the air, and warm air can carry more moisture. However, there may be more tropical storms in the eastern and central Pacific, but fewer in the tropical Atlantic, including the southeast US.

For Northern Europe, meanwhile, El Niño may increase the chances of a cold end to the year, according to the UK Met Office. This could bring better ski conditions than have been seen for a while to some European resorts, but will also heighten the risk of travel disruption in the air, on roads and rail, over the winter holiday season 2026.

Would-be holidaymakers should check travel insurance policies carefully, as extreme weather is usually an exclusion that means they will not receive compensation in case of affected journeys. They may also want to consider travelling in the shoulder seasons to avoid high drought conditions in traditional holiday hotspots, as well as looking at the Nordics and other so-called “coolcation” summer destinations that are trending at the moment.

Aside the risks for travellers, El Niño brings more existential threats. In a video statement, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said, “The science is clear: El Niño is arriving on our doorstep in the coming months with 90% certainty. The world must treat it as the urgent climate warning it is. El Niño conditions will pour fuel on the fire of a warming world. Impacts will hit even harder, travel even farther, and cross borders with devastating speed.”

Coming on top of wars in key supply regions like Ukraine and the Strait of Hormuz, any negative impacts that El Niño might have on agriculture and fishing could contribute to rising world prices and food poverty.

El Niño is arriving on our doorstep in the coming months with 90% certainty.

The world must treat it as the urgent climate warning it is.

The only effective response is #ClimateAction equal to the crisis – ending the addiction to fossil fuels, accelerating the shift to…

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) June 2, 2026

Addressing these concerns, Guterres called for “climate action equal to the crisis – ending the addiction to fossil fuels, accelerating the shift to renewables, protecting the most vulnerable, and delivering early warning systems for all.”

Echoing his words, WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said: “We need to prepare for a potentially strong El Niño event – which will exacerbate drought and heavy rainfall and increase the risk of heatwaves both on land and in the ocean.” Saulo promised “the WMO community will be carefully monitoring conditions in the coming months to inform decision-making by governments, humanitarian agencies, and climate-sensitive sectors. Advance seasonal forecasts and early warnings are vital to save lives and cushion the impact on our economies and our communities.”

L’article El Niño is back: how the climate phenomenon could reshape travel in 2026 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Synthetic kerosene, also known as e-SAF, is produced using renewable electricity, captured CO₂, and water through a power-to-liquid process. This allows the fuel to be created without fossil oil, while still being compatible with existing aircraft engines and airport infrastructure. The fuel is designed to reduce lifecycle emissions by more than 90% compared to conventional kerosene. Because it can be used in today’s aircraft without technical modifications, it is seen as one of the more practical options for reducing aviation emissions in the short to medium term.

The 5% blend used on the Amsterdam–Hamburg route remains small, but it plays an important role in testing and demonstrating operational feasibility. These types of flights are not primarily about immediate emission reductions, but about proving that synthetic fuels can be integrated safely into commercial passenger operations. KLM already carried out a similar milestone in 2021, when it operated the first passenger flight using synthetic kerosene from Amsterdam to Madrid.

At the same time, the project highlights the gap between ambition and availability. While e-SAF is technically viable, production volumes remain extremely limited. Only small quantities are currently available, with 200 litres used in this latest operation compared to 500 litres in the 2021 test flight. This illustrates how slowly production capacity is developing, despite growing climate targets in the aviation sector and increasing regulatory pressure in Europe.

The development of synthetic aviation fuels is also closely linked to European climate rules. Through the ReFuelEU Aviation regulation, the European Union is requiring airlines to gradually increase the use of sustainable aviation fuels in the coming years. This includes specific targets for both regular SAF and newer fuels like e-SAF. The goal is to reduce aviation emissions and push the market to scale up production. However, airlines and fuel producers say that meeting these targets will depend on how quickly production capacity can grow across Europe.

Cost remains one of the main barriers to wider adoption. E-SAF is currently around four times more expensive than conventional sustainable aviation fuel and roughly eight times more expensive than fossil kerosene. The production process requires large amounts of renewable electricity and complex industrial systems, which are still in early stages of scaling. In addition, permitting procedures and regulatory uncertainty in Europe continue to slow down investment in new production facilities.

Airports are becoming key actors in this transition. Hamburg Airport, which supported the operation, has indicated that its infrastructure is prepared to handle alternative aviation fuels. This includes systems for storage, blending, and distribution, which are essential for integrating new fuel types into daily operations. As more airlines begin testing and adopting SAF blends, airport readiness is becoming an important factor in determining how quickly these fuels can scale.

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Speaking about the flight, KLM CEO Marjan Rintel said: “Today’s flight to Hamburg once again shows that flying on synthetic kerosene is technically possible, but the reality is that the availability of e-SAF lags far behind ambition.” She also stressed: “To truly make a difference, we must work together with governments, industry, and partners on scaling up and affordability in order to accelerate the sustainability of aviation.”

Looking ahead, synthetic aviation fuels such as e-SAF are expected to play an increasing role in efforts to reduce aviation emissions. However, scaling production remains the key challenge, particularly given high costs and limited supply. Alongside other solutions such as conventional SAF and future propulsion technologies, e-SAF is likely to form part of a broader mix of decarbonisation strategies. For now, the Amsterdam–Hamburg flight mainly demonstrates that the technology is already operational, while the industry continues to face the challenge of making it widely available.

L’article KLM tests synthetic kerosene blend on passenger flight between Amsterdam and Hamburg est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

In very different regions, the signs of transformation are already clear. Christian Clauwers, visual storyteller, EU Climate Pact Ambassador and founder of the Society for Environmental Awareness (SEA), pointed to examples from across the world that illustrate how climate change is already affecting communities and destinations. In Lofoten, traditional fishing and drying practices that depend on stable cold air conditions are being disrupted by shifting temperatures and weather patterns. In the Arctic, melting ice and changing ecosystems are altering both wildlife behaviour and local ways of life. In the Pacific, island states such as Tuvalu are facing rising sea levels that threaten freshwater supplies and agricultural production, forcing in some cases the full import of drinking water.

These realities are increasingly shaping discussions around COP31, the next United Nations Climate Change Conference in Antalya. These issues were also explored during the high-level event “Road to COP31: A Shared Future from Brussels to Antalya” at the Press Club Brussels Europe, organised by the Society for Environmental Awareness (SEA) in collaboration with the Sustainable Future Platform and Travel Tomorrow, which brought together policymakers, scientists and industry representatives. The focus is shifting from long-term climate targets towards immediate adaptation and resilience, especially in regions already under pressure. Coastal tourism destinations across Europe illustrate this intersection clearly, as they depend heavily on stable seasons, water availability and predictable environmental conditions that are becoming less reliable. Rising flood risks and growing pressure on infrastructure and insurance systems highlight how climate impacts are moving from environmental concerns into economic and operational challenges for destinations.

A recurring issue in these discussions is the gap between scientific knowledge and political action. Climate science has been warning about these developments for decades, yet implementation often remains slow or fragmented. “The knowledge is there, the political will is missing, and until that changes, scientific evidence alone will not be enough to drive meaningful action,” highlighted Bart Rymen, Belgium’s IPCC focal point. This gap is further widened by misinformation and limited climate literacy, which continue to shape public understanding of climate risks. International coordination remains essential, as climate impacts do not respect national borders. Pressure is increasing not only from scientists, but also from younger generations who are demanding faster and more visible action.

Traditional media dynamics are also shaping how climate debates are framed. Hans Bruyninckx, Professor of Environmental Governance at the University of Antwerp and former Executive Director of the European Environment Agency, noted that journalists regularly ask him to participate in discussions with climate deniers, despite the overwhelming scientific consensus on climate change. “There is no point in that debate, the real discussion lies within the complexity of the climate challenge itself rather than in questioning its existence.” He also pointed to a lack of investigative climate journalism, a problem he linked to financial pressures on traditional media outlets. Instead of presenting climate science as a two-sided debate, he argued that journalism has an important role to play in helping the public understand the complexity and urgency of the issue.

While environmental warnings have been consistent for decades, it is often economic consequences that finally push climate change higher on the political agenda. Policymakers tend to respond more quickly when environmental risks begin to affect financial stability, public services or security. One of the clearest examples can be found in the insurance sector, where climate risks are increasingly reflected in both current claims and future projections. According to industry assessments, Belgium could see around 40% more flood-related insurance cases by 2040. In some regions around the world, obtaining insurance is already becoming more difficult, creating knock-on effects for housing, investment and access to loans. Environmental risks often become politically urgent only when they translate into economic consequences, even though the scientific evidence has been available for decades.

Alongside these risks, there is a growing focus on ecological resilience and circular economy models as part of long-term solutions. Ecological resilience refers to the ability of natural systems to absorb shocks and recover, while the circular economy focuses on reducing waste and keeping resources in use for longer. Instead of relying on linear systems of consumption and disposal, destinations are increasingly exploring ways to integrate nature-based solutions. “Wetlands and mangroves can act as living barriers, absorbing wave energy and softening the impact of floods 
and coastal erosion before they reach human settlements,” explained Gudrun De Boeck, Head of the ECOSPHERE Research Group at the University of Antwerp. 

Tourism itself is also evolving in response to these pressures. In Türkiye, examples such as Club Marvy illustrate how tourism can move towards more integrated and locally rooted models. Rather than focusing only on visitor volume, this approach connects guests with local food systems, markets and cultural practices. It encourages a form of travel that is more participatory, where tourism becomes part of local life instead of being separated from it.

Communication is another key part of this transition, especially as climate change can still feel distant or abstract to many travellers. Scientific data alone is often not enough to convey urgency or complexity in a way that resonates widely. This is where journalism and visual storytelling play an important role. The exhibition “The Fragile Frontlines of a Warming World”, curated by Ipek Tekdemir and featuring the work of Christian Clauwers, aims to make environmental change visible through photography from regions already under pressure.

COP31 is increasingly positioned as more than another milestone in a long series of international climate negotiations. While agreements such as the Paris Agreement established global ambition, the challenge today lies in turning commitments into practical action at a time when climate impacts are already visible across tourism destinations. “Good leaders lead from the back, stronger economies and institutions, like the EU should actively support countries that are less equipped to deal with the consequences of climate change,” Daniel Cervenka, Director of The Convergence and CEO of Resolve Global. As COP31 approaches, attention is shifting from what has been agreed on paper to what can actually be delivered on the ground, with destinations already adapting to climate pressures through infrastructure planning, resource management and new tourism models.

L’article Experts call for action over ambition ahead of COP31 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Giannis Stathas, mayor of Arachova, has recalled childhood days where schools would close and roads would be impassable for several days due to snowfall. “We don’t see that here anymore,” he says, describing the former 300-metre altitude snowline shrinking away to 2,400 on Mount Parnassos.

And it’s not only anecdotal. Konstantis Alexopoulos, a snow hydrologist at Cambridge and the National Observatory of Athens, and co-founder of the Hellenic Mountain Observatory, found in a study that snow cover is “rapidly declining across 10 mountains of Greece, across the mainland,” adding: “We’ve lost more than half of the snow cover… since the mid-1980s.”

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Those four decades can be traced with NASA and European Space Agency satellite imagery, using machine learning fill in missing data. They reveal the loss of a snowpack water reservoir that Alexopoulos describes as like a “savings account.” Unlike rain, disappears quickly into rivers and seas, snow is stored in the mountains “ultimately melting at the time that we need it the most,” Alexopoulos said. 

Local Arachova restauranteur, Aktida Koritou, points out: “One hundred percent of Arachova’s water is supplied by snowmelt.” Dry springs and reservoirs are making residents more conscious of the need to save water, especially as droughts are now lasting into the autumn months. Those same droughts are exacerbating the risk of wildfires that Greece has faced off frequently in recent years. The possibility of constructing dams has been proposed.

Meanwhile, ski professionals are looking to snow retention techniques and adapting seasonal schedules to reflect the lack of snow—and visitors—in December, a month that used to see the ski season begin.

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Alexopoulos is calling for further research into what has been an under-explored phenomenon due to the remote nature of the landscapes in question, and a lack of understanding of the challenges that climate change would bring to these rural communities. 

“Other mountainous regions of the world, such as the Andes or the Himalayas, … have all experienced a steep decline in snow cover but not at the rate that we saw in the Greek mountains,” he said. “In Greece we haven’t focused so much on it because we never really understood the importance of snow’s contribution to our water resources,” he said. “But as this shifts and as this starts to decline, we are seeing those droughts, and we are trying to explain them.”

L’article Greek mountain resorts grapple with loss of snow and water shortages est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The effects of global warming mean that spells of extreme heat present a growing risk to public health, especially for vulnerable individuals who live in highly urbanised places. But the latest study by researchers from University College London (UCL) and the University of Exeter, found that light-coloured roofs installed across all of London’s skyline could have kept the UK capital 0.8°C cooler during the heatwave of 2018, preventing 249 fatalities. That’s 32% of the 786 heat-related deaths that happened in London in the unusually hot months (1.6°C higher than seasonal averages) of June, July and August that year. 

UCL published its findings in Environment International in partnership with Belgium’s Sciensano, VITO, and KULeuven. Belgium is one of the most densely built-up countries in Europe, and in the Belgian capital, up to a quarter of the heat-related deaths during the July 2019 heat wave could have been prevented with the implementation of cool roofs, it claims.

“If widely adopted, cool roofs can significantly reduce the ground-level air temperature of a city,” explained the study’s lead author, Dr Charles Simpson from the UCL Bartlett School Environment, Energy & Resources, adding: “The resulting cooling effect across the city would save lives and improve the quality of life for residents throughout the urban area.” 

White painted or lighter-coloured roofs, as often seen in the picture postcards of Greek islands and hot Mediterranean countries, work to cool neighbourhoods down because they absorb less of the sun’s radiant energy than traditional roofing materials in countries like the UK, where black bitumen, grey slate, and terracotta tiles are more frequently seen overhead.

As cool roofs store and give off less heat, surrounding air temperatures remain cooler too. Implemented on a large scale, it’s possible to decrease outdoor temperatures, “especially during hot, cloudless summer days,” the researchers say, comparing it to “the difference between wearing a black T-shirt or a white T-shirt in the sun,’ according to KU Leuven researcher Fien Serras. “You stay cooler in the white T-shirt. The same principle applies to roofs, but with an impact on the whole city.”

The UCL and international team are recommending roofs that are intentionally made more reflective, for example, by installing white or light-coloured roof covering, by applying special coatings, or by using specific materials that reflect solar radiation. Having looked at the effect of adding greenery into urbanscapes, they also point out that more green spaces in combination with cool roofs proved important to lower nighttime temperatures—offering crucial recovery time for the human body when the temperature soars.

L’article “Cool roofs” could save hundreds of lives during heatwaves, scientists say  est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Bordered by Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan, the “sea” is in fact an inland body of water — the largest on the planet — a brackish lake fed by 130 rivers, with the Volga the main source. A remnant of the ancient Paratethys Sea (alongside the Aral Sea, the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov), it now has no outlets, so the amount of incoming water from rivers and rain, and the rate of evaporation are the factors that affect its levels. Those water levels have been declining since the mid-1990s, satellite imagery shows.

But now, scientists have found that global warming is worsening the situation, and even casual observers can see that the former shoreline along Azerbaijan’s Absheron Peninsula is shrinking to expose the seabed. The sea suffered a two-metre drop in water level between 1996 and 2023 and experts predict a loss of between five and 18 metres by 2100. 

“Climate change is accelerating evaporation and disrupting the water balance of the Caspian Sea,” says Dr. Elnur Safarov, of the IDEA Public Union and coordinator of the Caspian Integrated Scientific Network (CASPISNET).

It’s important because the declining water levels are impacting wildlife and humanity along the basin’s delta, wetlands, and reed beds. “Fish in the Caspian Sea, which include sturgeon and other endemic species, are losing their natural habitats,” says zoologist Dr Nijat Hasanov, adding that “Nesting, breeding and resting habitats for millions of birds, including pelicans, flamingos and ducks” are also in jeopardy.

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Other creatures who feed on the fish such as the endangered Caspian seal are now at greater risk, and human fishers face food insecurity too. Azerbaijani fishing communities now “have to go deeper into the sea to catch the same amount of fish they used to catch nearby the shore,” explains Farhad Mukhtarov, water governance specialist with the International Institute of Social Studies.

The “delicate hydrological balance” that needs to be achieved to address these serious concerns requires cooperation among “all five Caspian littoral states,” according to Mahir Aliyev, Coordinator of the Secretariat of the Tehran Convention. Marine safeguards and sustainable development principles have already been adopted by the five Caspian coastal nations, but Aliyev is calling again for “coordinated regional action” that he deems “essential to manage the environmental consequences across the basin.”

L’article Caspian Sea shrinking threatens wildlife and habitats, experts warn est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Under the new rules, advertisements promoting petrol and diesel cars, airline travel, cruise holidays and fossil fuel contracts are no longer permitted. Ads for meat products, including beef, pork, chicken and fish, have also been removed from public billboards and transport hubs. 

Amsterdam officials say the policy is intended to support the city’s target of becoming carbon neutral by 2050 and to encourage residents to adopt more sustainable lifestyles. The move builds on earlier environmental measures introduced by the Dutch capital, including restrictions on polluting vehicles and campaigns promoting cycling and plant-based diets. 

Environmental campaigners welcomed the decision, comparing it to earlier bans on tobacco advertising. Hannah Prins, a climate activist, said the restrictions could help reshape public attitudes over time, arguing that future generations may look back at such adverts in the same way people now view cigarette promotions. 

The ban was first proposed several years ago and formally approved by Amsterdam’s city council earlier this year, following growing pressure from environmental groups. Campaign organisation Reclame Fossielvrij, or Fossil Free Advertising, had long argued that advertisements encouraging high-carbon consumption conflicted with the city’s climate commitments. 

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Amsterdam is not the first Dutch city to restrict environmentally harmful advertising. Nearby Haarlem introduced a ban on most meat advertisements in public spaces in 2022, with the policy taking effect in 2024. However, Amsterdam is the first national capital to extend the restrictions to both meat and fossil fuel products on such a large scale. 

The measures have also sparked criticism from parts of the travel and advertising industries, which argue the policy limits commercial freedom and unfairly targets legal products. According to Deutsche Welle, travel industry groups previously challenged a similar advertising ban in The Hague, claiming it violated free speech and European trade law. A Dutch court rejected those arguments, ruling that public health and climate objectives justified the restrictions. 

Despite the controversy, city authorities say the policy reflects a broader shift in how governments approach climate action. Public advertising spaces across Amsterdam are now increasingly filled with promotions for cultural events, museums and local attractions rather than high-emission products.

L’article Amsterdam becomes first capital to ban public ads for meat and fossil fuels est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

One of Spain’s defining characteristics is its vibrant outdoor lifestyle, epitomised by its bustling terraces where people of all ages socialise throughout the day and late into the night. This way of life, long taken for granted, may now change due to rising temperatures.

On 13 April, an addendum to the agreement was introduced by trade unions FeSMC-UGT and CCOO Servicios, and was agreed with industry bodies Hostelería de España and CEHAT. The new rules are primarily aimed at protecting workers.

This change comes against a backdrop of intensifying heat. Last summer, temperatures reached 45.8 °C in Jerez de la Frontera during a heatwave that swept across the country, while Spain’s national average for the month was 25 °C, equalling the record set the previous year. The period from 8 to 17 August marked the ten hottest consecutive days recorded in Spain since at least 1950. Such extremes are unlikely to ease as global temperatures continue to rise.

Under the new framework, whenever an official weather alert signals danger from extreme heat, heavy rain or snow, businesses must take protective measures for their employees. In practical terms, this means that staff working outdoors must be brought inside if conditions are deemed unsafe.

Waiters are now explicitly covered by these protections, moving between sun and shade with loaded trays. Service will shift indoors during extreme weather events. This already happens during heavy rain or when it is cold, when terraces empty and activity moves inside. The same logic will now apply to heat, unless the terrace has adequate shade or cooling systems.

Weather alerts are issued by AEMET, Spain’s national meteorological service, and these will trigger action. Businesses that fail to comply could face fines of up to €50,000 from labour inspectors.

Trade unions have praised the agreement as a significant step forward, with the FeSMC-UGT describing it as a “milestone that highlights the progress made through social dialogue and reaffirms the commitment to strengthening a model that guarantees rights, stability and progress for workers and companies”.

New rules in Spain mean some bar and restaurant terraces could close during red or orange heat alerts unless they have proper cooling measures.
Do you think this will change how you spend summer afternoons out here?#SpainNews #HeatwaveSpain #LivingInSpain #HospitalitySpain pic.twitter.com/CpqlD1n3As

— Spanish News Today (@MurciaToday) April 29, 2026

Beyond regulation, the measure carries a certain cultural resonance. Spain has long been associated with its unshakeable siesta tradition, during which activity would pause for several hours in the hottest part of the day, not only on terraces.

While this midday break has disappeared in many urban areas due to modern working patterns, air conditioning and tourism demands, it still exists in smaller towns and rural areas. The temporary closure of terraces during the hottest hours of the day may reflect this older rhythm, suggesting that taking a break during the hottest part of the day is not only a cultural tradition but also an increasingly necessary practice.

For travellers, however, the change is unlikely to be significant. Closures apply only during extreme heat events, and bars, cafés and restaurants will not shut entirely; rather, outdoor service will be temporarily unavailable. Activity is likely to shift towards the morning and evening, reinforcing a pattern already familiar in southern regions.

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Rather than imposing blanket closures, the rules require businesses to act when official alerts signal risk, with implementation dependent on local conditions.

Spain’s terrace culture is not disappearing but adapting. Even its most emblematic social spaces are being reshaped as climate pressures intensify, striking a balance between tradition and the realities of a warming world.

L’article Spain adds climate rules to hospitality sector as terraces face closures est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The list of shame includes some well-known and well-loved seaside spots. Ilfracombe on the north Devon coast has long been welcoming holidaymakers to its small coves and the historic Tunnels Beach, but the town’s Wilder Beach is flagged for its permanent advice against bathing.

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Dunster Beach in Somerset, boasts “wide open views across the Bristol Channel towards the Welsh coastline” and is described in a local guide as “a quieter alternative to nearby Minehead Beach, it’s a peaceful spot popular with walkers, families and those looking to relax.” Unfortunately, it is particularly vulnerable to short-term pollution after heavy rainfall, giving it one of the worst water quality rankings in the county.

While 15 of the 20 beaches on the list are in the south of the UK—stretching from Devon, Somerset, to Dorset, Hampshire, Sussex, and Kent to Essex—still, the north of the country does not escape. In fact, one of the north’s most iconic pleasure beaches, Blackpool, is blacklisted. The state of the beach there was bemoaned by local Member of Parliament Chris Webb in 2024, who described the water pollution as a threat both to health and to the locals’ sense of pride.

Regions and beaches with the worst quality water in the UK

Also displeased to feature in the pollution rollcall will be the tourism stakeholders and residents of South Bay in the historic spa town of Scarborough, which is supposed to be celebrating its 400^th anniversary as a thermal waters retreat this year.

Water quality has been a hot topic in the UK in recent years. Agricultural runoff and sewage dumping are part of the picture, due to the country’s Victorian infrastructure. Poor water management practices have also contributed to the poisoning of many public waters and coastlines. Critics point to a lack of investment and renewal by privatised water companies, which have been fined by the government amid the controversy, and banned from awarding bonuses to their executives.

But one of the people behind this latest water quality round-up, Martin Danemaq, highlighted the positive takeaways from the report, noting how few poor-quality seaside resorts there were. “Just 20 beaches in the UK remain unsuitable for entering the water out of the 400 official bathing spots nationwide – some of which are nestled within the most popular coastal areas in the country,” he said.

L’article UK blacklist of worst beaches for water quality drops as summer season hits est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.