Climate change needs addressed — right now
Climate change is real and we need to stop arguing about how much is man-made and how much is natural. A number of studies suggest that investments in mitigation measures will not only avert environmental catastrophe but will also reap significant returns in net financial benefits. As noted below, five specific areas have been identified for such investments.
We should develop early warning systems that can accurately forecast when a storm, heatwave or other adverse weather event is coming. Just 24 hours’ warning can reduce the resulting damage by 30 percent.
We should upgrade living conditions in vulnerable communities. This would include improving housing, water, sanitation, drainage and waste management. These investments would build resilience and strengthen communities' adaptive capacity.
We should develop drought-resistant crops
and modernize irrigation systems that would help protect small-scale farms from rising temperatures. If nothing is done, global crop yields could shrink by 30 percent by midcentury.
We should better protect mangroves, which reduce the impact of storm surges that threaten coastal communities. Mangrove forests prevent more than $80 billion per year in losses from coastal flooding and protect 18 million people.
We should upgrade water infrastructure and natural watersheds in order to expand access to clean water. Today, 3.6 billion people don’t have enough water for at least a month out of the year. Failing to act could expose an additional 1.4 billion people to water shortages by 2050.
We should, but will we? Don Steiner
Schenectady