A High Cost to Deal With Climate Shift

[steven johnson]

Source: New York Times

“The role of funding for adaptation in middle- and low-income countries is taking a central place in negotiations,” write the authors of new report released last week — a joint effort of numerous British scientists and academics under the auspices of the International Institute for Environment in London and the Grantham Institute for Climate Change at Imperial College. “It therefore is imperative that our estimates of funding need are as accurate as possible.”

So far, the report argues, estimates have been ludicrously low.

Indeed, as my colleague James Kanter noted at our blog, Green Inc., on Friday, European legislators have discussed climate adaptation costs in the range of $140 billion annually, while the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has put the number at roughly $170 billion each year.

Eliminating that infrastructure deficit for low- and middle-income countries will, by itself, cost on the order of $315 billion annually over the next 20 years, the authors argue. Girding that updated infrastructure to meet the demands of a changing climate will run between $16 billion and $63 billion in additional funding each year.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/31/business/energy-environment/31iht-green31.html

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One meter sea level rise could be significant> This is expected to occur within 100 years. But as little as 8 inches in sea level rise could cause catastrophic flooding.











Some areas of New York City will be at risk from strom surges with as little as 8 inches of sea level rise.

[tabatha]

1. Gosh, there was one unrec.

A Rec from me set it back to 0.

[time_has_come]

3. I've noticed a few DU posters ascribe to the "natural cycle" pablum. n/t

[imdjh]

5. Yes, it's much less convenient than a pseudo scientific belief system.

[Double T]

2. Hundreds of billions more?

No problem.....just keep the printing presses rolling.

[imdjh]

4. Two meters would be even scarier. Meters should definitely be avoided.

[oct2010]

6. German scientists say that Holland soon will dissapear under water

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=4fd_1241985052