CHARLES DARWIN’s grave in Westminster Abbey was defaced on Monday morning. Spray-on orange chalk was used to write “1.5 IS DEAD” on his memorial, in Scientists’ Corner.

Last week, it was reported that, in 2024, average temperatures had been, for the first time, more than 1.5ºC higher than in the pre-industrial era.

Two women have been charged with criminal damage. Alyson Lee, 66, of Park Grove, Derby, and Diane Bligh, 77, of Langham Place, Frome, were bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 11 and 12 February respectively.

An Abbey spokesperson said that no permanent damage had been caused to the grave. “Conservators took immediate action to clean the grave,” the spokesperson said, and confirmed that the Abbey had remained open for visiting and worship throughout the incident.

The European Copernicus Climate Change Service reported last Friday that 2024 had been the hottest year on record, with global average temperatures about 1.6º higher than pre-industrial levels.

In 2015, at a meeting in Paris, countries pledged to “endeavour to limit” global warming to 1.5º (News, 18 December 2015). The agreement refers to average temperatures over more than one year; so the 2024 figures on their own do not mean that the agreement has been broken.

The spokesperson said that Westminster Abbey was “committed to environmental sustainability and to reducing our carbon emissions”, and was seeking to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2040. “These commitments form part of the Abbey’s carbon-reduction plan as we work to achieve carbon neutrality, implementing a variety of energy efficiency measures,” she said.

This story was updated on 15 January to reflect the charges made.