Storm Floris and the power of walking and wheeling in our changing climate

Alana Genge, our Head of Communications and External Affairs

This week, we saw Storm Floris sweep across the UK. It brought unseasonably fierce winds and torrential rain. Gusts reached up to 134mph in the Scottish Highlands, which led to power outages, travel cancellations, and damage to infrastructure.

The storm has been described as the most damaging summer storm in recent memory. It’s a reminder that the nature-climate crisis is not a distant threat but it’s here and it’s getting worse.

Storm Floris was a ‘weather bomb’, also known as explosive cyclogenesis. It’s when the ‘central pressure inside an area of low pressure can fall at a rapid rate’ (Met Office). This was rare in summer but is becoming more frequent as global temperatures rise and weather patterns become more unsettled.

It’s easy for us to feel powerless. But one of the most impactful actions we can take is surprisingly simple. Walk and wheel more.

Walking and wheeling are nature-friendly, low-carbon modes of transport that reduce reliance on fossil fuels, cut air pollution, and reconnect us with our environment. They are also resilient, so when trains are cancelled or roads blocked, walking and wheeling remain reliable ways to get around. They also create a deeper appreciation of our environment and the natural world which encourages us and our communities to protect and restore them.  

As we rebuild from Storm Floris, let’s also rethink how we move. Choosing to walk or wheel more, whether for commuting, leisure, or errands, is a quiet but powerful act of climate resilience. It’s a step toward a healthier Scotland, stronger communities, and a more stable planet.