However, parallels with global warming are not accurate, it's a pity so many sceptics and deniers inhabit this forum but I imagine the US media has a lot to do with this (as well as your education system).

I'm on a ferry on the Tasman strait and can't be bothered producing all the academic references.  But even the 'skeptic' scientists who were employed by the corporate PR companies have jumped ship -- the evidence is now overwhelming.  Hopefully, a few more super-storms will hit the east coast, wake you from your insular torpor.