Cost of Global Warming Apparent as US Reaches 12th Mega-Disasters in 2011-- each over a Billion $
- John Cornelison
- December 8, 2011
Table of Contents
CBS notes that this year’s 12 disasters costing over 1 billion dollars each surpasses the number seen during all the 1980’s – even with inflation adjustments. In associated reports they note that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s latest report indicated that additional small and large disasters can be expected with global warming.
The disaster community largely hasn’t focused on the carbon emissions issue now in unproductive talks in Durban, South Africa – in what seems like a large oversight of the disaster community. Ignoring this linkage, and delaying our reduction of carbon emissions will just raise the number and future cost of disasters: economically and in humanitarian costs here and abroad.
We’re now blowing through the worst case scenarios previously contemplated - with a 5.5 degree Celsius (10 degrees Fahrenheit) increase now likely for 2100.
Graphics from IPCC's "Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters" report:
www.ipcc.ch/news_and_events/docs/ipcc34/SREX_FD_SPM_final.pdf
