Climate change costing $billions, charity reports
(CNS): Fifteen of the natural disasters and extreme weather events during 2019 that resulted in damages of more than $1 billion were fuelled by climate change, Christian Aid found in a new report released Friday. These disasters killed and injured thousands of people around the world and ranged in damage costs from over one to 25 billion dollars. Counting the Cost 2019: a year of climate breakdown identifies 15 of the most destructive droughts, floods, fires, typhoons and cyclones last year.
However, the authors of the report believe their findings are likely to have underestimated the true costs as in some cases they include only insured losses and do not take into account the costs of lost productivity and uninsured losses. In addition, the climate fuelled wildfires in Australia were not included because figures on how much the ongoing fires are costing the country have not yet been collated.
The most costly disaster identified in the report was wildfire damage in California, amounting to around $25 billion, followed by Typhoon Hagibis in Japan, which is estimated to have cost over $15 billion, and floods in the American Midwest and China, both of which exceeded $12 billion in damages. The events with the greatest loss of life were floods in Northern India, which killed 1,900, and Cyclone Idai, which killed 1,300 in Southern Africa.
The key message in the report is that these billion-dollar disasters are linked with human-caused climate change. In some cases scientific studies have shown that a particular event was more likely or stronger because of the changing climate and shifts in weather patterns.
While the report focuses on the financial cost of extreme weather events driven by climate change in many developing countries, the human cost of climate change to vulnerable communities is even higher than the financial cost, according to the charity which focuses on poverty. It further noted that there are many slow-onset droughts, weather change and sea encroachment that are also progressively and devastatingly impacting millions of people worldwide.
“2020 is going to be a huge year for how the world responds to the growing climate crisis,” said Dr Kat Kramer, Christian Aid’s Global Climate Lead and co-author of the report.
“We have the biggest summit since the Paris agreement was signed five years ago taking place in Glasgow, where countries must commit to further cut their emissions in line with the 1.5°C temperature rise limit, and boost funding for poor countries suffering from the kind of impacts seen in this report.”
But she warned that last year emissions continued to rise.
“It’s essential that nations prepare these new and enhanced pledges for action to the Paris agreement as soon as possible. That will ensure the world responds urgently to the warnings of scientists, as well as the demands from school children around the globe who are horrified at the kind of world they are being forced to inherit,” Kramer added.
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Category: Climate Change, Science & Nature
Complete lie. The real problem is that leftard politicians ban people from burning dead wood due to “climate change” just like California
Once again ledtards are the cause.
the lame trumpist climate change nonsense from many posters in cayman does not surprise me…..just look at your education system and its dismal performance and lack of credible 3rd level education.
I woke up this morning and everything seems to indicate that today is Monday for most of the planet. I really would prefer it to be Friday, so I called the precious few of my like-minded, elite, and intellectual friends and we will get together for Friday Happy Hour later today and have a good laugh at the millions of “Today is Monday” hoaxers.
Aren’t you clever.
Touched a nerve?
Nope. You’re just clever. You’ve figure the whole thing out. Now what?
Have an opinion based on facts not pseudoscience.
how can anybody thumbs down this???
If facts include alternative facts, and pseudoscience is any science that you don’t agree with, then it deserves a million thumbs down.
There is no such thing as an alternative fact unless you live in Donald Trump’s world.
There are a lot of poorly educated people on this island.
In the next 20 years, shit is going to get uncomfortably real, and history will collectively look back at this generation’s privilege and inaction with great shame and condemnation. The global population of the Bible was around 300 mln, today 7.8 Bln, and 15 Bln expected within 20 years. Soon, and long before calamitous sea level rise, we will see continental fires, hurricanes, desertification, the end of major global fisheries, the last drop of fresh water in major urban centers, and a global resource war (already in motion). 4 or 5 generations from now, for whoever is left, there might be entire trans-tropic zones that are uninhabitable. So put down your cheeseburger, close your Amazon browser and attune to what is already irreversibly in motion. Regardless of cause, humanity has tools at its disposal now and no alternative planet. Greta is right, this is an emergency where real action is required. If everyone in the privileged first world were to quit their animal consumption 2 or 3 times a week, we could push this back 20 or 40 years.
Anonymous 9:46 am, you say “In the next 20 years, shit is going to get uncomfortably real.”
Things ARE going to change…. they always have, and they always will. We cannot control the up and down swing of the temperatures that have been going on for millions and millions of years, and it will continue until something catastrophic takes place and destroys earth. Maybe our nearest star, known as the sun, will explode and quickly kill everyone in one blast of heat and radiation. Or, maybe our earth will explode when struck by another planet or asteroid or something unknown whizzing along through our solar system. We have no way to prevent such happenings, so don’t worry about it. Well….. O.K., you can worry about it if you want to, but it won’t make any difference.
How about we try to make the earth better while we are still here? How about we get serious about cleaning up our rivers and seas, which are becoming unsuitable for creatures living in the seas? When the seas are polluted enough to kill all the sea life, humanity will not be far behind! Think about it.
Huh?
You can’t say “don’t worry about it”, and then go on to rant about having more “environmental conscience”. Pick a lane.
Nah. It’s over man. We’ve had a fair (but unenlightened) run. This planet wants us gone and that is what it will have. It’s pretty basic cause and effect.
We have to choose what story we are staying with. Either there is climate change or there isn’t. If it isn’t then the coral reefs are doing great in George Town. If there is a climate change affecting the Earth then the reefs are dying and Mr. photographer is using old or fake photographs of areas not destroyed yet.
So which one is it? I’m getting confused and angry. With all the ships piers throughout the world lets look at the East coast of USA. Any coral that has died cannot have been caused by piers, blame is due to climate change also. How much or less of that is anyones guess. What about all the piers in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Central America or South America? So why only here is the pier going to have such an effect? Did the pier in Rum Point cause the beach to go or destroy the reef? Could someone in the CPR like Shirley Roulstone or a member shoot some pictures of that pier in Rum Point and show the destruction proving once and for all the destruction caused by that pier. I think it would help me to make up my mind.
It’s amazing that there are people this dumb that can cast votes.
History will look back harshly at the Boomer and Gen X generations, the most comfortable and stubborn in the human record. Alas, it will be up to Gen Y and Z to formulate workable solutions to push-back the clock on the inevitable. Maybe there’s a few hundred years if real effort could be made today.
There are too many people. None of this is fixable with the world population going up.
Funny how it didn’t cost me anything at all.
You live long enough it will cost you.
The article says it’s costing the world now. Not me though.
Ummm, you can’t just refuse to pay.
When the next Hurricane Ivan hits Grand Cayman in the next 10 years, it will cost you. Guaranteed.
Sure but that’s not climate change.
Yes it is. The hurricanes are getting bigger and bigger every year with winds now over 200 mph. This is now the norm. The higher winds are created by higher ocean temperatures. This is climate change.
Hmmm.
– Who
No outright denials from the Great Proclamator? You disappoint me son.
Actually, I submitted a post on the day of the news item but apparently CNS deemed it unacceptable.
Perhaps they will clarify in a fair manner?
– Who
CNS: I go through 2-300 comments a day sometimes. I don’t make a note of the comments I delete or the reasoning. So, in answer to your question, I have no idea.
go get an education.(not via youtube)
So we obviously we needs to understand that they know EXACTLY which fires have started by climate change and which are started accidentally by human intervention such as things like the lens effect caused from glass and/or other natural or man made catalysts. And so clearly, all global fires and causes have been studied and of course the conclusion was unanimously that most if not all were as a result of the earths “changing” climate.
Ie. This article is laughably idiotic.
Like your grammar?
The lens effect caused by glass? Laughable idiotic for certain.
Drunk/high guy at 2:15am feels he has credibility and knowledge to share. smh.
Keep denying until you can’t. You shouldn’t have to wait too much longer.
This seems fairly simple to me: Instead of talking about climate change as though it were an entity that we should all fight, (and apparently fund without any measurable parameters), why oh why doesn’t humanity come up with a collective plan to clean up the Earth?
Is the same thing, right, except a definitive plan would be measurable, and funding would be trackable. Doesn’t that satisfy us all? I don’t think there is much doubt in anyone’s mind that wherever human beings settle, they screw up the environment.
We can’t legislate a corrective change. We have to create a plan for mitigation of groundwater, soil, air and support recycling, and distancing from plastic and fossil fuels? Then, it can be discussed and funded. Doesn’t that sound better than funding the UN *spit* or nebulous scientific organisations to continue their studies and proclaim a victory? We sure as hell shouldn’t continue to POLITICISE it!!! That is the Antithesis of solving the problem!!
We are well past the division — or should be — where people line up on one side of “climate changers” and “deniers” on the other, and throw insults at each other instead of really getting with the nuts and bolts of cleaning things up!!!!!!!!
Am I missing something here???????? Conserve the environment. Clean it up, move toward renewable resources and energy. Hope like hell we don’t blow ourselves up before we get the job done.
Big Beau you certainly are naive. Of course we can legislate corrective change. In the U.S. massive subsidies are given to the fossil fuel industry while Trump puts up barrier after barrier up against solar power, wind power and other renewable energies.
We know the problem but when one has an idiot President saying that climate change is a “Chinese Hoax” we have very serious problems in terms of making any sort of progress. Scientists around the world have identified the problem but now we are in a period of conspiracy theories and hoaxes. We are in troubling times regarding climate.
I really don’t give a damn what Trump does or doesn’t do. It doesn’t have anything to do with me. Why the condescending attitude?
You feel superior, fine. I have a degree in Chem and a minor in math and physics. I read a hell of a lot. Does that make me an expert? No. Certainly not. It doesn’t make me a rube either.
Again, ONCE again, why do we have to insult each other, rather than discussing things with proper accreditations?
Show me a concise plan and I will vote for it. Tell me you want to shovel MY money into a UN or IPCC study, and I will tell you I’ll save it for a more important event.
There you go again Big Beau. Trump pulled America out of the Paris Climate Accord. Basically saying there is no climate change problem agreeing with the Russians.
Read up about the Paris Climate Accord which every major country in the world is a signatory to except America and Russia and then maybe you will understand why people are condescending towards you. You have major gaps in your knowledge so keep reading and studying.
Whether we like it or not the Americans set the tone on climate change and major technologies. Unfortunately, with Trump we are going backwards on all renewable energy issues. America is no longer a leader on climate change issues.
Once AGAIN, Trump has nothing to do with me. I am interested in measurable results, not hyperbole, unsupported claims, or lofty plans.
Not that it matters, but I probably know more about the actual workings and text of Paris (and Kyoto) than yourself. I am a scientist at heart, and employ those methodologies. I study. I read. I attempt to not let my conclusions influence my opinions. I save papers from both sides of the fence, and it is my fervent wish to know the truth, rather than to parrot the party line. I wish that for all of us.
If we belay the divide, and actually talk as people, — debate, even *gasp*, we might all learn a few things. As long as we are in a position of letting self-proclaimed experts (on both sides) decide our views, we are lost, and this problem will never be solved.
A scientist at heart? Boy are you delusional. Suggest you start reading some of the studies put out by the U.S. Meteorological Service and NASA the last few years on climate change. The data is all there. Then after that, you can start looking at the studies put out by Environment Canada on climate change in Canada, particularly the North, where villages are being moved due to the tundra melting and climate change.
Lots of reading for you to do in 2020, Mr. Scientist.
By the way Mr. Scientist, Trump has cut billions of dollars the last 3 years from scientific research in America. But I know, Trump has nothing to do with you but you call yourself a scientist at heart.
But the scientists who work for NASA are not self proclaimed experts. Unlike yourself.
I specifically said I am NOT an expert, and don’t pretend to be.
Please excuse me for expressing an opinion that is different from your own. If your continued responses are derision and insults as opposed to discussion, I’m afraid you and I are intellectually incompatible.
Cheers.
So why don’t you believe the climate experts?
Hard to have a discussion with someone who does not accept basic scientific facts but claims to be science friendly.
You will find yourself intellectually incompatible with most intelligent people until you start accepting facts.
B.S. Don’t tell me you are interested in measurable results. The measurable results already exist. Start reading more.
Must be a really stupid scientist at heart, if you read the Paris Climate Accord and still haven’t got the message yet.
The people who put the document together were NOT / NOT self proclaimed experts.
You folks need to get your act together. America is not responsible for the shit being poured out by places like China and India nor for the debacle in Madrid that you all presided over. What Trump is actually saying is that America is not going to pay to fix your problems while it works on its own.
Yes and that is why a country like China has moved ahead of America in solar technology and research and development. While the Germans, Scandinavians and Dutch are at the for fro to find both wind technology and tidal power.
America us falling behind in the renewable technology field in large part to the brilliant genius, Trump.
There was a time when America led. Now they follow.
If you really had a degree in chemistry and minored in math and physics you would be easily capable of seeing what is pseudoscience and what is real science based on facts. Wonder about the degree you have.
Excellent Ad Hominem logical fallacy, with a side order of Strawman. Really well done. Persuasive, even.
Nice retort bro. Deep shades of Who.
MAGA!
The greatest leader in the history of the world.
The chosen one as he calls himself.
What ????????
Probably has a degree from Trump University.
When the most powerful man in the world is pushing QAnon Conspiracy Theories you should be very concerned.
You will never get a chance to vote on a concise plan in the Cayman Islands as the CIG is light years behind in terms of environmental issues and any type of sustainable development.
The Paris Climate Accord was the first step towards a collective step to cleaning up the Earth.
“The key message in the report is that these billion-dollar disasters are linked with *human-caused* climate change.”
As so often, “climate change” is attributed to human intervention, and that is unfair and unproven. The greatest influence on earth’s climate is the sun. Short of pushing the sun a couple of miles further way, we are stuck with its effect. Was it humans who caused the ice-age glaciers to melt fifteen years ago? Of course not. It was the sun, or the volcanoes, or whatever – who the heck knows? But it was extremely unlikely that it was humans, back in the days before factories and motor cars.
Those with an open mind might like to take two minutes to check out a blog-post of mine from a few years ago at this link:
https://barlowscayman.blogspot.com/2015/03/global-warming-global-cooling.html
CNS is an excellent news service, but its editors aren’t scientists, and they really shouldn’t give credence to this cockamamie theory by presuming that it’s true, that modern humans cause climate change. Don’t make us feel guilty, when we’re not.
So, you’re a climate scientist now, are you, Gordon? And you’re more adept at interpreting the data than NASA and all other major science societies, not just in the US but every country where there’s not a tyrant in control? https://climate.nasa.gov/scientific-consensus/
Wow, Gordon! That’s really impressive!
Personally, like CNS, I prefer to follow what the actual climate scientists are saying. So no, I will not be wasting my time reading your blog. Sorry. Climate deniers and their pseudoscience bullshit are tiresome.
This is exactly what I was talking about above……… insults instead of discussion. Straw man arguments instead of citations of facts.
This is called confirmation bias. We have to do much better. We have to actually listen to each other and find common ground. I don’t doubt a bit that you and Gordon both want Trashmore cleaned up, and would delight in getting us off diesel generators for our primary power. I bet you’d both be thrilled if the CIG funded a concession for people who invested in alternative energies — in addition to the duty concession. We’d all be thrilled if all three islands engaged in REAL recycling, yeah?
So why the constant back-and-forth insults? That does us zero good. We can’t solve the world issue, but we can sure set an example here on our own little rock(s).
Coming from an individual who says we can’t legislate corrective change you better get ready for insults Big Beau. Legislation will get Mount Trashmore moved. We have been talking about this issue for 20 years and not one piece of legislation to do anything about the problem. Just talk and talk and more talk.
I am sick and tired of inaction for 20 years on Mount Trashmore. One’s tolerance to non action on this issue can only last for so long.
So here is a fact Big Beau, The Dump is a ticking time bomb.
I gave you a thumbs up, because I agree. However, MOVING Trashmore won’t mitigate it. It will just *spit* MOVE it somewhere less visible. We neeed in-situ mitigation and recycling.
What I meant by ‘corrective change’ is that we, nor any nation can’t legislate a change in thought. We can legislate measurable procedures and plans. We should not try to legislate ideals or other facets of thought control. We need to clean up this big blue ball we live on, and stop sinning against her. Everything else is just fluff and money-making opportunity for disingenuous groups who want to label themselves heroes.
Trashmore doesn’t have a leachate barrier. Are people really this dumb?
@ 9:14 am ::: Yes.
the first step in this problem is exposing the nonsense of climate change deniers….the world is doomed if we become ignorant of scientific facts/consensus.
Facts that undermine your position are not insults, Big Beau.
You do not seem capable of understanding that simple fact.
Gordon Barlow is a “subtle genius”. Has all the answers on climate change. Certain he believes climate change is a Chinese Hoax like Trump.
Scientists and NASA are all idiots. Right, Gordon?
I am also fed up with pseudoscience bull shit which is totally out of control in Trump’s America.
So you choose to strawman Gordon into joined at the hip with Trump? I really don’t think you’re trying. I think you just choose to lump everyone into either “us” or “them”.
You are part of the problem. At least Gordon expressed his opinion and owned it.
Big Beau, Get off the fake news bandwagon. You are watching too much Fox News.
This story isn’t about me, don’t you get that?
Not that it matters, but I neither watch nor endorse Fox News. You are attempting to cubbyhole me into a label of your choosing because I have the unmitigated GALL to question the gods of climate change, and wonder if money might be better spent with REAL and actual measurable mitigation.
See, if I were to play your game, I’d made a very easy connection between your mindset and that of AOC. That would be erroneous and stupid, wouldn’t it?
Just take the time to get your brain around the friggin climate change data. That’s all you have to do. These scientists who do the research are not Gods but they do have facts on their side.
And the bad part is……………. They don’t have ALL the facts!
But Donald Trump has all the facts?
1:46 pm; No, they are not gods…… and they don’t have ALL the “facts”.
What facts do you require on global climate change?
We know you watch Fox News because the only network that takes AOC serious and is incapable of not talking about her is Fox. No one else in the broadcast media pays attention to her as her views are too extreme on climate change. But of course people like you need a left bogeyman or in this case a left bogey woman.
Irony is apparently lost on you. Please enjoy your echo chamber devoid of input inconsistent with your own paradigms.
p.s…… who is “we”? No, you’re wrong about that. I don’t need an enemy. What I seek is the truth. Do yourself a favour: Read the Paris Agreement/Contract and truly understand it. You don’t have to tell the readers here your impressions. Do it for yourself. Then tackle Warsaw and Cancun.
Bet you believe as a graduate of Trump University that Trump read the Paris Climate Accord.
Your enemy is scientific facts.
Those who support pseudoscience are joined at the hip with Trump.
Trump is a major part of the problem and those who are stupid enough to follow pseudoscience and conspiracy theories such as climate change is a Chinese hoax.
yep…when did fake news become and argument against scientific evidence?
sad times for gordon barlow…. trust in science not garbage conspiracy theoreys from the internet.
firstly the ice-age wasn’t 15 years ago, no matter what fox news tells you.
There is cyclical climate change, determined by many factors, but the changes to the climate across the globe happen slowly, due to many reasons you give, earth tilt, solar variation, vulcanism.
But the issue is we are affecting that, and making the climate changes much much faster, this doesn’t allow many species time to evolve hence high extinction rates.
The end result of a 4C increase in global temps over 100-150 years, won’t lead to the extinction of humans but will lead to a heavy strain on civilization, huge increases in migration and conflict.
An example will be the US praries drying up and heay migration of Americans norht to Canada that is likely the only country to benefit. Canada should start to build a wall on its US border now and make the Americans pay for it, or they will be swamped.
But again I will let you know that the ice age did not happen in 2004, you are getting your information from an idiot.
Not many Americans live in the prairie, they have irrigation, and Canada will not be the direction of travel.
A year ago Dr Kramer published a similar report claiming global warming had cost the planet £40billion.
I’m not saying they’re wrong but releasing this report when the charity is apparently experiencing serious funding issues doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.
After the 2014 Ebola fiasco in the UK I wouldn’t give them a penny.
Methinks the “charity” needs donations…
you don’t think enough.
I was being sarcastic but glad ya caught on 6:26.
Is it the change that’s making it cost so much or is it the denial?
Both. Denying climate change is making it worse.
How is denying it making it worse?
Please explain, thoughtfully and intellectually. I would like to understand the reasoning.
If we pay money the Climate will stop changing? Makes zero sense. I will stay a denier.
You will pay, one way or the other.