Watching the BBC TV news last night, it was obvious that climate change is now having a very real effect on the lives of pretty much everyone around the world.

In mainland Europe, temperatures are soaring way above normal levels in a number of countries, causing devastating firestorms and consequent loss of crops through drought. Similar stories are unfolding in many other nations, with drought, desertification and fire affecting regions as diverse as Africa and the USA.

Meanwhile, in the UK we have been enduring rain storms for weeks on end and it looks like we’re headed for the wettest summer on record. Large parts of the country are flooded. We’ve had giant hail stones in the middle of London (interesting, but shovelling six inches of ice off my kitchen roof is not really my idea of fun). Parts of London have been flooded, and in other areas of the country whole villages have been cut off, resulting in a number of deaths. Floods have inundated water treatment plants. The army is helping to deliver water to people whose supplies are now polluted. Meanwhile, flood water and sewage flows through their living rooms. What a great summer.

Whilst it may be debatable to link all these events directly to climate change, the evidence is certainly strong. Either way, scientific research has now conclusively proven that human emissions of greenhouse gases are bringing about changes in the world’s climate that are leading to erratic and more devastating weather patterns, coupled with a gradual increase in average global temperatures.Â

And now, a scientific report published in Nature yesterday states that increases in both rainfall and drought are being caused by human activity. Ironic, perhaps, that some people are drowning whilst others are dying of thirst, but that’s the way things are going.Â

Global warming doesn’t simply mean that it’s getting hotter. It also means that we’re in for much greater devastation from floods, tornados and mudslides in many areas.

Anyone want help me build an ark?