By Adam Boland (Sunrise Executive Producer)

My cabbie always likes talking about the weather. I guess it's the polite thing to do. But politeness wasn't his priority when he greeted me this morning: "f***, it's hot mate."

Chris Bath had a different way of putting it on last night's news - but no less dramatic: "Sydney is bracing for the hottest November day on record." 

Don't you get the sense you've heard that before? We're constantly breaking records these days as the weather becomes more extreme. Bathie also revealed last night that Britain's enduring its heaviest ever rainfall!

Here's the thing I don't get. How many more times must Mother Nature go crazy before we all realise that something ain't quite right? Maybe - just maybe, those guys who dedicate their lives to studying weather patterns might actually know something. Maybe NASA is qualified to comment on the health of our planet after all. 

Sadly, despite the evidence - there are plenty still not buying it. I wonder about them on days like this. Do they ever stop to think their "talk to the hand" approach to science might actually have something to do with why they're sweltering today? Or do they just switch their air-con to max, before sitting down to an afternoon's reading of Andrew Bolt?

I'm all for freedom of speech. I'm all for healthy debate. I'm not for planetary suicide. At some point, we need to say the debate is over. 

Professor Andrew Short is Sydney Uni's guru on geoscience. He's releasing a report tomorrow which says we need to raise the level of Sydney Airport and make all of our ports higher! He reckons we have a few decades before the sea becomes dangerously high - so it's important we start now. And here, ladies and gentlemen, is where the sceptics find their fury. They hate change. It basically costs too much. Too much upheaval, they scream. Too many jobs at risk. The great irony of course is the very thing they fear, will be the key consequence of their failure to act. 

It might seem easier to look the other way. But just remember days like today when you do. "F***, it's hot mate."

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UPDATED FRI 13 Nov 3.03pm

A quick Q&A with Sunrise Executive Producer Adam Boland aboutliving with bipolar disorder (Type 2).

WHEN WAS THE FIRST TIME YOU REALISED SOMETHING WAS WRONG?  
Well, I didn't. 

The people around me did - particularly my mum in my late teens.   At first, she thought the highs were a normal sign of an energetic teenager -- but she became worried by an increasing number of lows. She wanted me to get some help.  I did - by listening to music, which tended to make me even sadder! It wasn't until my late twenties that it became clear even to me that something was wrong.   

WHAT WAS THE FINAL STRAW? 
Well, spend a week not being able to leave your bed and you start reasoning something isn't right.  Close friends couldn't connect, no matter how much they tried.  At points, I didn't even know they were in the room. 

There were usually triggers - but in the end, I couldn't even pick them. 

I would get morbidly sad - undermining my ability to work and function.  I'd be in the control room during a live show and need to run into the bathroom to cry.  I also had some rather embarrassing panic attacks - including one in Myer, where I needed to just escape at all costs.  I managed to get to my car - and stayed in it until I was certain the coast for clear.  I just felt horribly self conscious.   

WERE YOU RELIEVED WHEN YOU WERE OFFICIALLY DIAGNOSED? 
Mixed emotions.  Despite my worsening episodes, I still struggled to accept there was anything wrong with me.  I like to be in control - and felt weak in some respects that I was losing control of my own emotions.  That said, the attraction of being able to manage the mood swings - particularly the lows - soon overwhelmed any hesitation.

HOW DO YOU MANAGE THEM? 
When I was first asked about this about a year ago, I created some rather unintentional headlines by insisting I could cope without drugs.  I hated reading those stories - because I wasn't trying to be some kind of hero.  My point was - I didn't like the drugs removing my highs.  I feel as though I achieve so much more during a high - so at the time of that interview, I was willing to accept the lows if it meant I could keep the highs - and simply invest in counselling.  To some extent that worked - or at least I thought it was working. 

I made some other major lifestyle changes which also helped.  I went months without a low.  But that's the danger of the black dog.  When you least expect to see him - he confronts you in a dark alley and won't stop barking.  So I guess if I was to be asked that question again - I'd say everyone is different. 

My treatment regime evolves - and I still haven't perfected it.  That said, I do feel that I'm again in control - and the best of all, those around me know the warning signs - so intervention often happens before problems worsen. 

DO YOU USE SUNRISE TO CHANGE ATTITUDES OF MENTAL ILLNESS? 
We use Sunrise to throw light on many misunderstood facets of life.  I think that's one of the terrific things about our show.  The reality is that all of us know someone with mental illness. 

Why be embarrassed?  We're not embarrassed by other illnesses.  We treat them. 

The key is to understand the symptoms.  So sure, I'm proud of the fact that Sunrise has helped with that process - and will continue to do so.  And to that end, anyone reading this who wants more information on bipolar should visit the people who helped me - www.blackdoginstitute.org.au