Climate Changed
How the U.K.’s Tower Blaze Could Affect the Fight Against Global Warming
- Insulation may have quickened spread of fire in London
- Disaster is a setback for key lever in climate change fight
U.K.'s May Says Combustible Cladding Found in Buildings
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The fire that killed at least 79 people in a residential tower in London earlier this month has delivered a blow to an often overlooked section of the green industry that’s crucial to delivering energy efficiency.
Local authorities across the U.K. are ripping foam insulation from housing blocks after concerns that plastic cladding on the Grenfell Tower acted as an accelerant to the June 14 blaze. In addition to drawing attention to fire safety rules, Britain’s housing crisis and income inequality, the disaster has implications for the fight against global warming.