EDINBURGH’s climate will be more like Paris’ by 2050, according to an analysis which illustrates the impacts of global warming on major cities.

An evaluation of the world’s 520 major cities by the Crowther Lab, a scientific facility in Zurich, indicated more than three-quarters will experience a striking change in climate conditions by 2050 compared with today.

It found more than a fifth (22 per cent), including Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, will experience unprecedented conditions that major conurbations have not seen before.

London’s climate in 2050 will be more similar to Barcelona’s current conditions, while Edinburgh’s will be more like Paris is now. Glasgow's future climate was compared to Cardiff.

The researchers said pairing up cities in this way can help people visualise the impact of climate change in their own lives.

For example, London could face the kind of extreme drought conditions that hit Barcelona in 2008, with severe implications for the Spanish city’s population and major economic costs from importing £20 million of drinking water.

The predictions are based on an “optimistic” scenario where action is taken to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

Jean-Francois Bastin, lead author of the research paper, said: “History has repeatedly shown us that data and facts alone do not inspire humans to change their beliefs or act.

"The intangible nature of reporting on climate change fails to adequately convey the urgency of the issue - for example, it is hard to envision how 2C of warming, or changes in average temperature by 2100 might impact daily life.

"With this analysis from Crowther Lab scientists, we want to help people visualise the impact of climate change in their own city, within their lifetime."

The study, published in the journal PLOS One, suggests summers and winters in Europe will get warmer, with average increases of 3.5C and 4.7C respectively - equivalent to a city shifting 1,000km (620 miles) further south.

Professor Mike Lockwood, from the University of Reading, said the study was useful in visualising climate change, but warned against overlooking huge infrastructure issues caused by changes to the climate of the world's cities.

He added: "For example, bringing Barcelona's climate to London sounds like it could be a good thing - if you don't suffer from asthma or have a heart condition, that is - except London clay shrinks and is brittle if it gets too dry and then swells and expands when very wet.

"The greater swings in ground moisture expected in a warmer world would cause massive subsidence problems.

"As ever, there is destructive and unforeseen devil in the details of climate change."

It came as the Scottish Greens warned Nicola Sturgeon not to be complacent after experts insisted the UK’s credibility is at stake over a lack of action on climate change.

The party said a new report by the UK Committee on Climate Change (CCC) should act as a “wake-up call”.

John Gummer, chair of the CCC, compared the “ramshackle” approach of the UK Government to Dad’s Army.

Green environment spokesman Mark Ruskell said climate change is “already having an impact on our infrastructure, economy and services”.

He added: “Given the First Minister declared a climate emergency, it is incumbent on the Scottish Government to start doing something about it.”

The CCC said people are at risk of heatwaves and flash flooding due to the UK Government’s lack of preparation – while emissions targets are likely to be missed in the coming years.

A spokesman for Scottish Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said the report was “a damning indictment of the UK Government”.

She said: “By contrast, Scotland has been internationally praised for its efforts and ambition on reducing emissions, and the report highlights a number of areas where we lead the rest of the UK - including our work on energy efficiency, tree planting and adaptation work.

"Our emissions have almost halved since 1990 and we continue to look at policy areas across government where we can go further, faster in response to the global climate emergency.

“We acted swiftly and unequivocally on the recommendations made by the CCC in May, setting a target for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions of 2045.

"The CCC made it clear in its advice that meeting this target was contingent on the UK Government acting on the policy areas that currently remain reserved. We have been urging the UK Government to do just that."