23rd July 2007

The miserable news resulting from the weekend flooding is that, in the era of climate change, this is the sort of event we can expect to see occurring more frequently. The cheering news is the way the people of  Gloucestershire have been supporting each other in the face of crisis.  While the emergency response appears to have been good, we have a right to criticise a succession of government ministers for failing to show leadership over climate change. Hot air is not enough: we need fair but firm policies to restrain car use and flights, and to tackle the lifestyles which lead to excessive CO2 production.

However good the official response, there is only so much that politicians and emergency planners can do. We are going to have to learn to rely on  ourselves and each other more and more in the coming years. Building  up resilient local economies and strengthening our communities is the  most positive route we can take to protect ourselves against the  effects of climate change.
 
Yours faithfully
 
Molly Scott Cato
Stroud Green Party