Alex's diary. 15 August 2030.

I hate Thursdays. My alarm beeps at 5am, so I can catch the water truck. I slip my gas mask on and grab two cans. Outside, it is already 30C.

When I return, Mum looks at the half can of water and says, "Is that all?" They have cut the rations again. Dad's late for work, still trying to fix the broken heat pump.

Grace texts, "We're here." She and Evie are on the street in their UV coatsHarmful ultraviolet light can penetrate traditional fabrics like cotton. So in extreme heat, scientists recommend special fabrics with a high ultraviolet protection factor (UPF). and masks. The heat alert on my watch flashes 24. Twenty-four minutes until it's too hot to be outside. "Got to go, Mum. I'm late."

We hurry along the green corridorCar-free avenues through urban areas with vegetation and wildlife. As well as supporting ecosystems, they improve the air quality and reduce the surrounding temperature. to school. Grace and Evie are my best friends. Grace's family lived far south before the wet-bulbA temperature read by a thermometer covered with a water-soaked cloth. It is a measure of high temperature and high humidity. Wet-bulb temperatures above 35C are fatal because the body is unable to cool itself by sweating. summers forced them to move. Evie comes from a place that does not exist anymore.

Our school's on the edge of town, away from the city heat islandUrban areas are usually warmer than rural surroundings because of heat retained by artificial materials and waste heat from energy use.. Today the shutters are closed. It takes a few minutes for our eyes to adjust.

Because of the heat, the teachers cram all our lessons into the morning. By break time, my brain wants to explode. We pass an icepack around. It is a miracle to hold something that cold.

In geography, we pin up a revised world map with the new coastlines. Grace says it looks shrivelled. Evie says nothing. The teacher asks us where we would like to go when the government lifts the ban on air travel. I say Antarctica.

After lunch, we sneak up to the top floor and peek through the blinds. We can see for miles. Out west, the wildfire blazes on the horizon. It has been burning for 37 days. Evie thinks the fire is getting closer.

In the afternoon, we doze in the inner courtyardsArchitects designing heatwave-proof buildings are inspired by African and Middle Eastern traditional buildings. These structures use thick walls and open spaces in permanent shade., the coolest part of the school. Until the bell rings and we know it is safe to go home.

I do my homework. Mum slices up lab meat "No-kill" meat grown from animal cells in a laboratory. The first lab-grown meat went on sale in Singapore last year. Its producers say it will emit less carbon and use less land and water than traditional farming. and makes a salad. The Council has declared a stay-at-home order for tomorrow, she says. Too dangerous to leave the house.

Dad says it is like a snow day. I've never seen snow.

Once you get Dad on to the good old days, you just cannot shut him up. Running water all year, swimming pools, footie in the rain, walks in the woods - trees older than Grandma.

I hate to see Dad sad. So when the warning lights turn green I get the football and we all go up onto the roof. The stars are out. And there is a cool breeze at last.

Yes: The science is clear: global warming makes heatwaves more likely. They will become more common even in the best-case scenario of a 1.4C rise by 2100, with a severe heatwave in the UK every 15 years.

No: This is a lot of hot air. Northern latitudes experienced heatwaves long before climate change. And some climate models predict wetter - and even cooler - weather for the UK and northern Europe.

Or... The future is unwritten. Humans caused climate change but we can still avoid its worst effects. If we act now, future generations will not have to accept heatwaves as a fact of life.

Reading levels

Level 5 - Level 3