So, climate change is real; we’ve established that. We’ve seen that it’s so important that America is trying to combat it, and the international community is as well. We know that climate change can bring rising sea levels, rising temperatures, and more extreme storms.
But let’s talk money for a little bit.
Yeah, money. You know, the stuff that you wish your wallet was full of? Well, not only is climate change an environmental issue, but it’s also going to drain the world’s wallet as well.
If you’re wondering how that’s possible, take a second and think about it. When we have an extreme storm, say, Hurricane Sandy, it’s devastating. People get hurt, property is damaged, and infrastructure needs to be rebuilt. All of that costs millions of dollars to fix. Then, you have emergency services, FEMA, and other agencies who also need federal and state funding. I don’t have any totals for you, but let’s just say that all of that adds up to way more than your Chipotle budget.
Don’t believe me? Listen to these guys instead.
So, how much exactly are we talking? If you’re the kind of person who likes numbers, then let Harvard Business Review tell you that climate change could cost us trillions of dollars. You may want to get that beachfront timeshare off your hands before the sea rises up and swallows your investment. Ask the people affected by Sandy how much that can cost.
To get even more specific and even scarier, The Guardian estimates that climate change could cost up to $2.5 trillion dollars in economic losses. That’s 17% of the world’s assets. Most of us can’t even fathom that much money; it’s almost impossible to wrap our heads around a sum that big.
So, when people say that combatting climate change costs money…they’re still right. It will take a lot of work and investment to reduce our CO2 emissions and become more environmentally friendly.
But when you hear someone say that, or make the argument that it isn’t worth the economic commitment, refer them to the numbers above. The fact is, a little investment now will go a long way in the future. Think about it this way: when you pay your car insurance bill every month, it’s annoying. That money could go to other, more fun things. BUT when you get into an accident and you’re staring down a steaming pile of metal, you’ll be so glad you have insurance. It saves you thousands and thousands of dollars in the long run. So, if we take out insurance on our cars, homes, vacations, and lives, why wouldn’t we do that for our environment too?
US environmental Policy 