The frequency and severity of recent extreme weather events this summer have been truly shocking, and with the IPPC report confirming such extremes will be the new normal, we can and should plan for them. Therefore it was concerning to see the fate of public statues given as much or more attention than the climate crisis in the recent revisions to government National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

It’s notable that the most significant part of national policy in respect of climate change is a footnote: an unusual way to deal with the greatest global crisis ever confronted by humanity!