The exceedingly wet August which saw more than three times normal rain fall, and flooding in Edinburgh and around Scotland, is an example of climate change taking hold say environmental group WWF. The organisation, who provide a monthly Climate Change Update, say it was the 6th dullest and the 10th wettest August ever recorded.
"We are already experiencing 20% more rain than we used to and the heavy, intense rainfall we saw in August is in keeping with the kind of impacts predicted under climate change models," said Dr Sam Gardner, Climate Policy Officer with WWF Scotland.
"At the same time, globally, over the past few weeks we have witnessed extreme weather events such as tropical storms and hurricanes on a worryingly frequent scale. We need to play our part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions if we are to stave off the worst impacts of climate change."
Gardner said it was all the more reason that the SNP government should not water down its green measures with its forthcoming Climate Change Bill.
"Scotland has the potential to produce the best climate change legislation anywhere in the world, setting the benchmark for the climate talks over the next 18 months. The SNP have promised an 80% cut by 2050 but already we think they are backing away from including the growing emissions from our share of international aviation in the target."
Environment Minister John Swinney has said that he hopes "to send a signal to the rest of the world to show the importance Scotland places on tackling climate change."