John Plender’s recent articles on workplace pensions are well timed (“De-risking: the investment pitfalls for pension savers”, Opinion, October 19; and “The lucrative pension fund transfer trend needs urgent scrutiny”, Opinion, September 17).

Building a pensions system that is both fit for the future and sustainable is one of the most formidable social, demographic and economic challenges that we face.

Rather than focusing on particular asset classes and adjudicating the actuarial debates of 20 years ago, there are better questions to ask and conclusions to draw.

With defined benefit (DB) pensions, the ship has sailed. These schemes are now closed, and it is not possible demographically for the younger generations to subsidise the older ones in the way that they did decades ago.

UK companies have poured hundreds of billions of pounds into their DB schemes to prop them up and can no longer afford to offer them. The priority has to be to run them off in the safest, most secure way for their pensioners with minimal risk or, in the case of insurance, no risk, to sponsoring companies.

Re-risking them, as Plender suggests, risks repeating the mistakes of the past.

Looking forward, the better question to ask is how can we strengthen the defined contribution (DC) system, which is what most working people receive these days. Our goal has to be that this system provides the current generation of workers with healthy, adequate pensions in the future in the same way that DB arrangements did in the past.

The challenge here is straightforward. People need to save more, but the pensions industry and government also have important roles to play.

For most people, DC pensions are their savings with the longest time horizons. As a country, we have persistently underinvested in infrastructure and other strategically important investments for decades. The key to building a DC pensions system that is not only successful but also sustainable will be to encourage long-term pension savings into these kinds of long-term, productive investments.

John Towner
London N10, UK

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The global temperature rise is expected to hit an average of 1.55C above pre-industrial levels this year, the latest data from the EU earth observation agency confirmed, making it “virtually certain” to be the warmest on record.

The forecast temperature rise in 2024 compares with a climb of 1.48C in 2023. It represents a temporary breach of the ideal goal of no more than 1.5C, which is enshrined in the Paris climate agreement, a value that is measured over decades rather than just a single year.

Last month was the second-warmest October on record, and the 15th in a 16-month period for which the global average exceeded 1.5C above preindustrial levels. The average sea surface temperature hit 20.68C, the second-highest value on record for October, Copernicus reported.

The data came as climate experts feared action to tackle climate change would be hobbled by Trump’s promise to pull the US from the Paris accord. Almost 200 countries will meet in Baku next week at the UN COP29 summit to discuss the next stage of climate action.

The “new milestone in global temperature records” should “serve as a catalyst to raise ambition for the upcoming climate change conference”, said Samantha Burgess, deputy director of Copernicus.

Current government policies globally would lead to 3.1C of warming this century, the UN’s environment programme recently reported. Already it is estimated the planet has warmed by at least 1.1C, based on an IPCC body of scientists’ report in 2021.

“Assuming that Trump will indeed follow through on the rhetoric, the jury is still out on whether other countries will step up to fill that gap,” said Joeri Rogelj, research director at the Grantham Institute.

Scientists have linked a series of catastrophic events in recent months to the excess heat stored by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and absorbed by the world’s seas from the burning of fossil fuels.

Flash floods in southern and eastern Spain were made more intense and twice as likely by climate change, according to a rapid analysis by scientists at World Weather Attribution.

These followed a severe hurricane season in the US and the Philippines, while Taiwan also suffered its biggest direct typhoon hit in 30 years. 

October also saw above-average rain in parts of Europe, the east of the Black Sea, parts of China, Australia and Brazil, while much of southern Africa was drier than average, with “ongoing drought” across the US. 

The naturally occurring Pacific Ocean warming phenomenon known as El Niño has contributed to a jump in global temperatures this year. A switch is under way to the reverse the cooling La Niña phenomenon across the Pacific, with the probability of it occurring between November and January put at 75 per cent, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This was already pushed back from previous forecasts, as the warming phenomenon persisted for longer.

Nonetheless, the average temperature anomaly for the rest of 2024 “would have to drop to almost zero to not be the warmest year”, Copernicus concluded.

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MCDONALD’S fans are in for a treat as the fast food chain is launching two new burgers on its menus from today.

The home of the Golden Arches is selling a Chilli Double Cheeseburger, and the Double Big Mac is returning to restaurants after nearly two months.

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The Chilli Double Cheeseburger will land across McDonald’s 1,300-plus stores from today (Wednesday, November 6).

As part of the fast food giant’s saver menu, it will cost just £2.49.

The new cheeseburger will feature two 100% British and Irish beef patties, two slices of cheese, onions, jalapenos, pickles and spicy relish in a toasted bun.

But there has been a mixed reaction to the new menu addition.

One social media user commented: “Omg need to try this!”

Someone else said: “Ooh looking forward to this.”

Another person said: “Looks lovely! I’ll order quadruple and Coca-Cola!”

However, others were less convinced.

One social media user said: “If it is anything like their other food they can keep it.”

Another person added: “Be better doing your own at home – McDonald’s is rubbish!”

One person said: “I’m so trying one of these! Bet it’s still bland though.”

And another added: “I have to be honest…I don’t like McDonalds but this could be special.”

Tom Church, Co-Founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, said: “A spicy twist on a classic burger is bound to create mixed reactions, but it’s an interesting way to heat things up on the Saver’s Menu.”

Meanwhile, the Double Big Mac is making a return to stores and will be available at all 1,400 McDonald’s.

The McDonald’s Saver’s menu in full

The McDonald’s budget savers range features the following eleven items.

Hamburger – £1.19

Cheeseburger – £1.39

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Double Cheeseburger – £2.29

Mayo Chicken – £1.39

Small Fries – £1.19

Mini Core McFlurry – £1.29

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Chilli Double Cheeseburger – £2.49

Small Milkshake – £1.99

Small Drinks – £1.19

Americano – £1.39

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White Coffee – £1.39

You can find your nearest site using the locator tool on the chain’s website.

The burger features four beef patties, double the iconic sauce and lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions on a sesame seed bun.

This is unlike the original Big Mac, which just features two patties, alongside the buns, sauce and dressings.

The limited edition menu item will be hitting restaurants from today – but if you’re keen to give one a go, you need to act quickly as the burger will be vanishing on November 19.

This means customers have around two weeks to get their hands on one.

Prices start from £5.39 for a single item and if you want to add a drink and chips it will cost £7.19.

The news has been welcomed so far, with one social media user commenting: “This looks so good.”

Another simply said: “Banging”.

It comes as Maccies revealed it is shaking up its budget savers range.

Drinks will now be added to the discounted menu with all items costing under £3.

You can read the newly updated menu below:

McDonald’s has rolled out several value schemes for customers.

For example, earlier this month, it launched a £5 meal deal letting customers choose from two different burger options, plus chicken nuggets on the side, along with a medium drink and fries.

When priced individually, a Cheeseburger or Mayo Chicken burger cost £1.39 each, Chicken McNuggets (4 Pieces) cost £2.79, Medium Fries cost £1.69 and a Medium Carbonated Soft Drink is £1.59.

The four items would typically cost £7.46, but customers can now save £2.50 if they opt for the £5 meal deal.

However, it is not guaranteed that every Maccies is running this offer and it is not available via delivery.

This is the list of restaurants where the offer isn’t running:

• Cobham MSA
• Plymouth Billacombe
• Walkden
• Tyldesley
• ASDA Leigh
• Leigh
• Leigh Retail Park
• Holyhead Road, West Brom

Customers can also benefit from MyMcDonald’s Rewards which is available to all McDonald’s app users.

Customers collect points by buying food from the fast food chain and exchanging these points for their fave meals, with 100 points earned with every £1 spent at the chain.

There are 15 items you can get for free once you’ve earned enough points, including popular breakfast items and McFlurries.

To sign up for the loyalty scheme, you’ll need to download the MyMcDonald’s app which you can do for free via Google Play or the App Store.

If you order and pay through the MyMcDonald’s app, your points will automatically be banked.

What else is new at McDonald’s?

McDonald’s regularly shakes up its menu to make way for new items.

The fast-food joint has just recently welcomed the return of the McRib burger after a near-decade hiatus.

Fans went wild when Maccies teased the return of the pork-based burger, but when it landed in stores earlier this month it was met with mixed reviews.

One customer said: “It’s not the same. The dry little sauce on top is nothing like the pic or what it used to be, shame on McDonald’s.”

If you are keen to try it yourself, it is currently on sale for £4.49 as an individual item or £6.19 as part of a medium extra-value meal deal, which also includes fries and a medium drink.

Dairy lovers have also been treated to brand-new cheese sides.

These Mozzarella and Emmental bites have a smoky caramelised onion-flavoured breadcrumb coating.

They come in portions of five for £2.49 or a sharebox of fifteen for £6.79.