Climate change is no longer a distant threat. We need to act now
The damage left behind by this weekend’s storms is a sobering reminder of just how vulnerable our communities can be to extreme weather.
Trees have come down, roads and rail routes disrupted, homes flooded and thousands left without power. Families face damage and uncertainty as emergency crews and council workers clear debris. The danger has been deadly, and my thoughts are with everyone affected.
Nor is the danger over. Further unsettled weather is expected, with strong winds and heavy rain continuing to pose risks across Scotland. Please follow official advice and avoid unnecessary journeys in dangerous conditions.
No single storm can be blamed solely on climate change. But the climate crisis is changing the conditions in which our weather happens. Warmer air holds more moisture, making intense rainfall more likely.
Scotland is expected to experience wetter winters and hotter, drier summers. This is the frightening pattern: scorching summers leaving hillsides tinder-dry and vulnerable to wildfires, followed by autumn and winter storms bringing relentless rain and flooding.
These extremes are not opposites. They are part of a changing climate that threatens people, wildlife and the services we rely on.
We must act on two fronts. Cut emissions by accelerating renewable energy, improving public transport and making homes warmer and more efficient.
At the same time, prepare for impacts already here: invest in flood prevention, restore wetlands and peatlands, plant trees in the right places and give councils and emergency services resources to protect communities.
Climate change is no longer a distant threat. It is visible in our scorched landscapes and flooded streets. We cannot prevent every storm, but we can reduce the risks and build a Scotland better prepared for what comes next.