I hope I am wrong, but in 2013 we can expect to witness more devastating extreme weather events fuelled and supercharged by the destructive power of a warming planet brought about by climate change.

I hope to see even more ‘unusual allies’ joining the global movement demanding climate action.

In particular, we can expect to see the women’s movement, trade unions and religious organisations continuing to get more actively involved in the struggle to avert catastrophic climate change.

Every year I begin with the hope that governments will step up and provide the leadership humanity so badly needs.

I hope they will stop being laggards, that they will find the political will to act beyond short-sighted electoral cycles and the corrupting influence of some business elites. My prediction is that in 2013, they will start listening more.

We recently saw the Philippines’ Climate Change Commissioner at the UN Climate Talks in Doha tearfully ask: “If not us, then who? If not now, then when? If not here, then where?” He was not only asking on behalf of his people but on behalf of all of us.

Hot on the heels of Super Storm Sandy wreaking havoc through the Caribbean and the US, typhoon Bhopa (Pablo) swept the coasts of the Philippines leaving hundreds of thousands homeless and killing over 900 people.

The storms came as a profound counterpoint to warnings from the World Bank that the current trajectory will mean a four degree warmer world by the turn of the century – making the dream of poverty eradication impossible.

We have seen investor groups and insurance companies demand that governments create a strong regulatory framework to avert catastrophic climate change. They have not suddenly become ecologists, but as economists they understand climate change is no longer ‘just’ taking lives and destroying infrastructure but it will wreak havoc on businesses and destroy the possibility of economic prosperity.

Bearing in mind, as Sharan Burrow the head of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) puts it, “there are no jobs on a dead planet.”

The main question is whether these extreme weather events, the science, public opinion and increasingly economic interests, will change the political world and rouse our governments from their slumber.

This question of government action will be played out and hopefully led by second term President Obama. Will he step up and keep his promise to become a climate champion?

During his acceptance speech he said: “We want our children to live in an America that isn’t burdened by debt, that isn’t weakened by inequality, that isn’t threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet.”

His change of will came too late for the Doha UN climate talks. But the time has come for decisive action, and I hope that 2013 will see the US become a world leader in addressing the imminent and real danger of catastrophic climate change.

I am not only looking at Obama for hope.

Other developed nations must also step up and Europe should rise to the role of global environmental champion. Emerging economies such as China, India, South Africa and Brazil need to take a more progressive role in constructing a climate saving deal at the UN.

That work needs to start now and not wait for two weeks of negotiation in two years time when governments have agreed to secure a fair, ambitious and legally binding climate treaty.

In 2013 I expect to see an increase in renewable energy investments and more innovation and technology that can deliver solutions for the climate while also delivering economic regeneration and helping lift people out of poverty.

This gives me hope that a transition to a low carbon global economy will become easier and that politicians will no longer be frightened by change and realise the need for progressive legislation.

Legislation that creates an enabling environment to generate millions of new, decent, green jobs ensuring a double win for the climate and social development.

We can no longer talk about climate change as an ominous threat on the horizon, the climate has changed and what we have seen this year is only a small bitter taste of our common future if action is not taken immediately to alter course.

I hope, I expect and I appeal on behalf of current and future generations that 2013 goes down in history as the year governments, business and civil society secured our planet for current and future generations.

I call upon all activists worldwide to continue to put pressure on governments and business, and continue to fight for climate, social and economic justice.

Unless we increase pressure on those with power, they will continue to be in denial about the reality that time is running out.

We need from them not simply cosmetic or incremental changes; we need transformational and fundamental change that reflects what science and Mother Nature herself is saying we need to urgently achieve.