CAMPAIGNERS slammed the British government today for recklessly approving oil and gas licences while temperatures soar to the hottest on record.

According to Copernicus, average temperatures hit 14.98°C, with July estimated to be the hottest month in the last 120,000 years.

Met Office scientists believe temperatures could increase again this year, rising to 1.5°C more than temperatures between 1850-1900.

“To stop the climate crisis accelerating, oil and gas must stay in the ground, but the UK government is poised to hand the industry annual licences to keep drilling for years to come in a false pursuit of energy security,” said Greenpeace campaigner Aakash Naik.

“Real leaders would stop fossil fuel companies cashing in on climate catastrophe and force them to start paying for the damage they are causing around the world.”

Just Stop Oil supporter James Skee called for people to put their bodies in the way of “business as usual” to force concessions from the state.

“We know this works, as we have seen in the Netherlands recently, where a road-blocking campaign there has forced the Dutch government to end fossil fuel subsidies.”

Dr Charlie Gardner, an Extinction Rebellion campaigner, said it is “beyond absurd” that the government is opening up the North Sea to further oil and gas exploration.

“Last year was the hottest year ever recorded, but the most terrifying aspect is that it didn’t just beat the previous record, it ‘smashed’ it.”

Mr Garnder said that the 0.17C increase compared to the last record held in 2016 suggests that “planetary heating may be accelerating, but the faster it accelerates the less time we have to decarbonise before we risk passing irreversible tipping points.”

“It’s yet more compelling evidence that we have to stop burning fossil fuels as fast as we possibly can.”

Friends of the Earth’s head of climate, Jamie Peters urged fo the government to invest in home installation and renewable energy production.

“Building a clean future would slash planet-warming emissions, cut bills, create jobs and boost energy security by ending our reliance on costly fossil fuels. Any political party failing to act in a climate emergency will be judged very harshly by history.”