Trump’s hot air shouldn’t distract from climate fight

As wildfires claim lives and destroy homes in California, we must not let Trump distract us from delivering urgent climate action.

The scenes of wildfires blazing across California are shocking and saddening, and bring home an uncomfortable truth – climate change is here. For too long the warnings about dangerous weather events didn’t hit home and many people, many governments, felt climate change was something that wouldn’t affect them. It was a far-off problem.

Now, the impacts of climate change are clear. Of course there are other factors which lead to wildfires, but the trend for more frequent and more serious fires in California certainly has climate change to blame. Ten of the past 15 years rank among the hottest on record in the western US. And 15 of the 20 biggest fires have happened since 2000.

But we know what we need to do and, despite Trump’s denial, climate action is gaining momentum. Across the US, cities, states, communities and businesses are moving away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy and cleaner transport.

Here in Scotland, with MSPS currently weighing up a new climate law, we need to ensure that law delivers the action urgently needed within the next decade.

Caroline Rance is a climate campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland