Long time In & Around contributor Atlantean takes a moment to reflect on what happens following the recent Paris conference…

January is a time for New Year’s resolutions.

Following the climate change conference in Paris, the world has one very big resolution to uphold, and it’s signed up to by 195 countries. In mid-December, environmental campaigners Greenpeace asked its supporters which of the following issues were most important to them:

• Health of the Oceans
• War and Conflict
• Corporate Excess
• Melting of the Arctic
• Political Corruption
• Unemployment
• Global Poverty
• Deforestation
• Fracking

If you think about the importance of all these issues for a moment, it’ll make your head spin. When I was a lad, we worried about cold war annihilation, world population growth (then only at 4 billion), and whether the next ice age was on the way.

This year, when winter hit on the afternoon of 12th December, many motorists and householders were caught out. A few years ago, snow rarely came before early January, and it seems many people were completely unprepared to drive in snowy conditions, crawling around at 15mph when conditions demanded faster – but careful – driving… particularly when going up hills. Who had a shovel and de-icer in their cars? Or were prepared with gloves and scarves?

Sat-Navs were overloaded with red and yellow congestion warnings around the region, but why is it that whenever snow falls, so many drivers abandon all use of indicators and signals?

By the next day, a general thaw had helped to ease the situation, and perhaps some of those people who had resolved to buy snow tyres for their vehicles actually then did so. They make a big difference to Mrs. Atlantean’s car (my own vehicle being parked in disgrace after the emissions scandal of last month).

With climate change comes the expectation of much more extreme weather on its way. More snowfall, more heavy rain, and more flooding. We’re seeing evidence of it all the time, yet the naysayers can still be heard. It’s highly convenient to be a climate change denier, since you don’t actually have to do anything, but for how long can we ignore what is happening right in front of us?

Ask yourself… where is the harm in turning down the heating and wearing a thicker jumper? Where is the harm in parking the car and trying public transport?

If we accept that it is happening, and that it is the fault of mankind, then we can move on to the more important questions… like are we past the tipping point already? Can global warming be prevented, or is our only option now to limit the damage we’re causing?

I have sad news for those poor people who have been flooded out twice in places like Cumbria over the last few years. Get used to the idea that it will probably happen again very soon.