Superstorm Sandy brought massive destruction to the East Coast: Nearly 100 people are reported dead, and the economic forecasting group Eqecat is estimating $50 billion in damages - the second-most-expensive storm in American history, after Hurricane Katrina.

It's not over yet, either - as the floodwaters slowly recede, blackouts and gas shortages will be a way of life for struggling people of the Eastern Seaboard for days to come.

The only positive outcome from this horrific storm would be if it finally forced climate change onto the political agenda.

That's what New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was aiming for when he gave President Obama a surprise endorsement this week. "One sees climate change as an urgent problem that threatens our planet; one does not," Bloomberg wrote in his endorsement. "I want our president to place scientific evidence and risk management above electoral politics." Superstorm Sandy, Bloomberg said, had brought all of this "into sharp relief."

Unfortunately, Obama has yet to do or even say much of anything about climate change. During his first term, other matters were always more pressing than the ever-controversial issue.

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Nor has climate change registered as an important issue during the 2012 presidential campaign. Neither candidate has had any desire to discuss it with the American people.

While there's little doubt that Obama would be the likelier candidate to take action on this crucial issue, will Sandy be enough to force his hand? Will it be enough to force Americans to pay attention?

It has to be. With the ever-increasing frequency of extreme weather events, Americans - and our leaders - have to learn that inaction on climate change carries a cost at least as high as carbon taxes.

The planet won't wait for us to decide when it's a convenient time to do something. Fighting climate change needs to be on the political agenda right now.