The Meteorological Office has the practice of publishing a short report about the weather at the end of each month. And a quick analysis of the main points that have been emphasised by the Met. Office over the past months confirm that the changes that are taking place in the climate ought to raise concern.

Experts say that one cannot gauge weather patterns over one year or even perhaps a decade, because one has to take into consideration a longer span of time to be able to determine shifts in trends. But the considerations that have emerged over the past months do make it clear that we are experiencing changes that will prove costly unless corrective action is taken, and is taken fast.

A few of the headlines that this newspaper published over the past months are self-explanatory: Warmest January-February in 85 years recorded, May – sunnier, warmer and much drier than normal, June – one of the warmest since 1922 and July with the second longest heat event in 30 years. It will not be a surprise if the report for the month of August will again evidence some kind of extremity.

And this is because it is apparent that extreme conditions, all over the world, are becoming more common and, at the same time, further apart. It was only a few weeks ago that we had Europe divided into two parts – with the northern part, in particular the United Kingdom, being hit by storms and floods and with the southern part experiencing a heat wave.

That the earth is under threat because of changing weather conditions is no news, as the subject has been debated for many years. But although, more recently, the matter has been taken up more frequently as scientists increased their warnings, the politicians who are responsible for taking decisions have replied rather lukewarmly.

Man’s behaviour has no doubt contributed to the gradual change that has occurred in the world’s climate, but the problem is that this change is now taking place at a faster pace because man has done little to rectify the situation. And the plans for such changes are also taking too long to be implemented, meaning that matters can only get worse.

The living generations are already experiencing the effects of climate change. We have already said that extreme weather conditions are growing further apart – floods and drought conditions are becoming more common, just to give an example. Temperatures continue to reach new records – at both ends – and these adverse conditions are causing more human deaths than they used to in the past.

But future generations will have it worse as the effects of global warming, the melting of the ice caps, the rise of the sea water level, the desertification process and the increase in temperature will no doubt bring about more hardships.

The Kyoto Treaty was concluded in 1997 to combat the effects of global warming and, since then, various conferences have been held to discuss how international cooperation should be further strengthened to reduce the emission of heat-trapping gases and to take action to control climate change.

It is imperative however that words are translated into action. Cleaner energy is needed for man to have less of an impact on climate change, and although great effort has been put in this regard by most industrialised nations, it is still too little.

Scientists and environmentalists have pointed the way forward in this regard, but they have little power other than that of the word. It is the politicians, the men and women who are elected to take decisions in the best interest of the citizens who elected them, who must show the willingness to take action.

And action is needed. Fast. We owe it to ourselves and to the future generations.