The warnings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change of pending environmental disaster made for sobering reading.

They should cause everyone to take stock, especially parents and grandparents - what sort of a hellish future is being created for our children and grandchildren?

The danger of floods and heatwaves is becoming ever more real, yet the world continues largely with business as usual.

Since the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015, the rhetoric has grown ever louder but action has sadly lagged behind.

Now, it seems we really are in the last chance saloon - action is needed now, not when it can be afforded or is politically convenient.

The Covid pandemic has shown how immediate and drastic action can be taken to counter a crisis.

Read more: We should not let 'because of Covid' become an easy excuse

In terms of climate, the Covid crisis saw a reduction in emissions for a short period, due to a drop in emitting activities like driving and flying.

But also note how so many people saw the need to get back to these modes of travel as a key part of "getting back to normal".

(Normal of course spawned both Covid and the climate crisis.)

The climate and biodiversity crises are different to Covid but demand a similarly urgent response.

Polling has shown most people recognise the threat of the climate crisis, however, when it comes to drastically changing the way in which they live there is resistance.

People want to live sustainably but also be able to drive and fly everywhere at will.

There has to be change - this is an emergency.

Governments need to act at all levels to counter the threat of climate and biodiversity breakdown.

The funding must be provided to back up the rhetoric.

But the real impetus must come from the grassroots.

Pressure has to be applied to politicians to act but people must be ready for a whole sale conversion in the way that they live.

This will mean driving and flying less, recycling and reusing more, creating less waste, growing food locally and reducing meat from our diet.

There will be sacrifice but also gains - it will be a different world but one where we can all live more sustainably together.