3 ms·

Everyone's problem, no?

lonelappde 7y ago
Not really. Poor countries don't have expensive infrastructure investments in the current climate, so can adapt to climate change by moving a few miles. Moving New York City and Los Angeles is much harder, and the loss much more expensive.
- cardamomo 7y ago
  I think you're making a number of assumptions that can't be backed up. > Poor countries don't have expensive infrastructure investments in the current climate... What do you mean by this? There are major cities in poor countries that are physically threatened by rising sea levels [0]. Agriculture throughout the tropics is threatened, because rising temperatures will dramatically reduce crop yields [1]. These are already affecting the poorest countries. > ...can adapt to climate change by moving a few miles. Moving New York City and Los Angeles is much harder, and the loss much more expensive. I think you're underestimating the effort required to migrate. We're largely not talking about a family here and there moving up the road. Climate change will cause -- and has already caused [2] -- mass migration of whole regions. [0] https://grist.org/article/rising-seas-are-lapping-at-the-shores-of-the-worlds-poorest-countries/ https://grist.org/article/rising-seas-are-lapping-at-the-sho... [1] https://www.technologyreview.com/s/613386/climate-change-has-already-made-poor-countries-poorer-and-rich-countries-richer/ https://www.technologyreview.com/s/613386/climate-change-has... [2] https://www.pri.org/stories/2019-02-06/climate-change-overlooked-driver-central-american-migration https://www.pri.org/stories/2019-02-06/climate-change-overlo...
- tempestn 7y ago
  Whole countries will experience food shortages due to climate change; moving a few miles isn't going to do anything about that. Rising sea levels covering inhabited areas, while a serious concern, isn't the most dangerous (to humans) consequence of climate change.
- nicoburns 7y ago
  If there's a runaway effect then everyone will be screwed. Besides, if the rich can no longer exploit the poor, then how will they fund their lifestyles?

Not really. Poor countries don't have expensive infrastructure investments in the current climate, so can adapt to climate change by moving a few miles. Moving New York City and Los Angeles is much harder, and the loss much more expensive.

cardamomo 7y ago
I think you're making a number of assumptions that can't be backed up. > Poor countries don't have expensive infrastructure investments in the current climate... What do you mean by this? There are major cities in poor countries that are physically threatened by rising sea levels [0]. Agriculture throughout the tropics is threatened, because rising temperatures will dramatically reduce crop yields [1]. These are already affecting the poorest countries. > ...can adapt to climate change by moving a few miles. Moving New York City and Los Angeles is much harder, and the loss much more expensive. I think you're underestimating the effort required to migrate. We're largely not talking about a family here and there moving up the road. Climate change will cause -- and has already caused [2] -- mass migration of whole regions. [0] https://grist.org/article/rising-seas-are-lapping-at-the-shores-of-the-worlds-poorest-countries/ https://grist.org/article/rising-seas-are-lapping-at-the-sho... [1] https://www.technologyreview.com/s/613386/climate-change-has-already-made-poor-countries-poorer-and-rich-countries-richer/ https://www.technologyreview.com/s/613386/climate-change-has... [2] https://www.pri.org/stories/2019-02-06/climate-change-overlooked-driver-central-american-migration https://www.pri.org/stories/2019-02-06/climate-change-overlo...
tempestn 7y ago
Whole countries will experience food shortages due to climate change; moving a few miles isn't going to do anything about that. Rising sea levels covering inhabited areas, while a serious concern, isn't the most dangerous (to humans) consequence of climate change.
nicoburns 7y ago
If there's a runaway effect then everyone will be screwed. Besides, if the rich can no longer exploit the poor, then how will they fund their lifestyles?