Storms ahead

I think most of us are now aware that pictures like these in Frognal (above) and Highgate (below) are likely to become more common as climate change makes weather patterns less predictable and storms more intense.

Camden Council was closed down by power cuts during last Thursday's storm. Moving towards a decentralised energy system, where we produce more energy locally, would not solve but would help with problems incurred by our dependence on the National Grid. Green roofs and green pavements, which soak up rainwater and carbon dioxide, would help mitigate flooding caused by the increasing intensity of storms.

The recent Stern Report gave us ten years to make a difference. Last week scientists suggested that carbon emissions are rising faster than expected and the capacity of the earth to absorb part of those carbon emissions is falling. Time is not on our side.