Climate change: Too big an issue to sweep under the carpet

The rain-swollen river Seine in Paris reached its highest level in three decades earlier this month, spilling over its banks and prompting the Louvre museum to shut its doors and evacuate artworks in its basement. Such extremes of weather are becoming more common as human-aggravated climate change wreaks havoc. Photo: AFP

When the world’s premier art museum has to move priceless artworks in underground storerooms away from rising floodwaters, it sends a chilling message to me.

The Louvre closed for days as a deluge of brown, debris-filled waters spilt over the banks of the river Seine onto Parisian quays and cobbled walkways normally busy with tourists and amorous couples.