THE Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has joined a growing campaign for ministers to tax polluters as global warming leaves services struggling with a 20 per cent rise in incidents since 2014.

The union representing more than 30,000 fire responders backed the Polluters Pay Pact as Britain baked under its second amber heat health alert in two weeks today.

Oscar-winning actor Peter Capaldi is among the 120,000 Britons to have signed the global Greenpeace initiative demanding that governments introduce new polluter taxes on fossil fuel companies to cover the costs of extreme weather recovery.

FBU general secretary Steve Wright said: “While oil and gas giants profit from pollution, firefighters are left to deal with the sharp end of the climate crisis — and all too often without the resources they need to protect lives.

“It’s front-line workers and vulnerable communities paying the price.

“Governments must get serious: make polluters pay, fund public services, and back a transition to clean, green energy.

“The UK and global leaders must be braver and bolder in holding polluters to account, starting with signing up to the principles set out in the Polluters Pay Pact.”

FBU analysis of official figures shows that the service has lost one in five firefighting posts since 2010.

The number of incidents it responds to has meanwhile risen by 20 per cent since 2014, with response times now at their slowest on record, the National Fire Chiefs Council says.

Greenpeace UK climate campaigner Maja Darlington said: “As more heatwaves, wildfires and floods hit the UK and countries around the world, we need well-funded, well-staffed emergency services to protect homes, businesses and lives.

“And if ministers are looking for revenue, they must tax the massive profits Big Oil is still making from cranking up the planet’s thermostat and devastating the lives of millions.”

Oil and gas producers currently pay a headline tax rate of 78 per cent under the Energy Profits Levy.

This will end when prices fall to or below a set price floor, or in March 2030.

A government spokesperson said: “The Energy Profits Levy already ensures the oil and gas sector contributes towards our energy transition while taking a responsible approach to tax which recognises the role the sector will have in the energy mix for decades to come.”