Energy analysts said the country is not on track, citing a list of U-turns, watered down targets and inconsistent messaging.

Searing temperatures, floods, wildfires and crop failure have been wrecking lives across the world with conditions expected to worsen.

It follows record-breaking temperatures in August and July across the globe.

The Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs, the Environment Agency and Ofwat may have misinterpreted the law.

With only three weeks worth of data, meteorologists are ‘virtually certain’ this month will raise the bar given how hot it has been.

The campaign group Global Witness said the images are a light-hearted joke about a serious issue.

There is still time for the ice to recover before the typical yearly peak in September, but it could also become the lowest year on record.