Ian McLean Spokesperson for the Green Party

Whatever weather you normally get, you will get it more.

That is the prediction for global weather as a result of the injection of certain gases into our atmosphere by oil and coal-based economies.

Hurricane Sandy has focused attention yet again on the question of whether climate is changing. More importantly, it reminds us that slight changes in average values, such as a small increase in temperature, are not the point. It is the consequential storms, droughts, fires and floods that are the point.

And there is no question that those are increasing in both frequency and intensity. The USA alone has recently experienced extreme drought, tornados, fires, flooding and now the 'worst ever” tropical storm.

Coastal communities, such as ours, are the most at risk and need the most preparation. As somebody in New Jersey said: 'all that enormous effort in coastal reclamation and replanting was nothing against this storm; it has all gone”.