We go wild in the sunshine in Scotland. A bit of heat brings us out in droves, summoning in the carnival of "taps aff". This past week's soaring temperatures in the west has, unsurprisingly, brought on the regulation party atmosphere.

But we ought to remember when we report on and talk about high temperatures with unequivocal glee, that heat brings its dangers, and in a world of climate change, these will likely arrive more frequently.

We would do well, for instance, to consider the Cannich wildfire. Last week, in possibly the biggest wildfire the UK has ever seen, flames burned through 30 square miles of moor and woodland and laid waste to half of the RSPB Corrimony Nature Reserve, destroying rare wildlife and habitats before being put out by a “monumental effort”.

Such wildfires start for various reasons but climate change increases the frequency of conditions under which they are more likely. That sun that we love is part of it.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service last week warned of a “very high risk” of wildfires across the country due to the warm, dry, and windy weather. Meanwhile, Sepa is already issuing early warnings for water scarcity across many parts of the northern Highlands and the Outer Hebrides, and the Scottish Borders.

This spring may not have felt the hottest – temperatures were only just above average – but it has been the driest in northern Scotland since 2018 and Sepa has reported river levels low across much of Scotland, describing it as “an emerging situation”.

When we celebrate the heat, we should also remember that we, in the UK, are connected to the rest of the world and a global food supply that may be impacted.  And, while a changed Scottish climate might allow us to grow new crops, it could also threaten our production of tatties and other familiar Scottish produce.

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One study, titled XDI Gross Domestic Climate Risk, published earlier this year, modeled increased risk from extreme heat, forest fires, flooding, and sea level rise across the world and found half of Scotland's counties experiencing a doubled increase in risk by 2050, with risk tripling by that year in Inverness – though total risk nevertheless remained lower than many areas in England.

The news about the impact of the climate crisis is relentless, yet I still hear occasional gleeful comments along the lines of "Bring on the climate change. We could do with a bit warmer weather in Scotland.” Often it's an anarchic joke – but one that's becoming increasingly less funny.

We may all love a lounge in the sun, but let’s not forget that gentle rain and temperate climes are our friends. By all means taps aff (with the necessary protection factor sun cream) and enjoy the heat – but let's not pine any further for a hotter Scotland.