THE lessons from Hurricane Irma and other extreme weather events are clear. There is a pattern of more severe storms, floods and droughts around the world.

Climate change is here and with a vengeance. For much too long industrialisation has depended on non-renewable fossil fuels. Burning this coal, oil and gas has, and is, choking the planet’s atmosphere. There is too much carbon-dioxide in the atmosphere.

We cannot stop Hurricane Irma but we can stop her even bigger sisters in years to come. I’m very proud of the efforts Oxford has made to shrink its carbon footprint. Our city is close to cutting its carbon-dioxide emissions by 40 per cent by 2020.

But governments, cities and individuals all need to do more. Hurricane Irma and Oxford’s floods are a clear warning. We must redouble our efforts to create a low-carbon Oxford. We need an energy-efficient city based on clean renewable power; from sun, wind and tides.

Cllr JOHN TANNER (Labour)

Littlemore ward, City Council Board Member for a Clean and Green Oxford