When considering climate change action, I find the analogy of fire insurance helpful. Almost all homeowners pay modest amounts for fire insurance "just in case," though the actual chance of a fire is very low. Even if someone still isn't sure about the likelihood of climate change (despite the overwhelming consensus among climate scientists), wouldn't it be worth paying a small amount as insurance against the very expensive costs of sea level rise and increased extreme weather frequency? And fortunately there are proposals, such as a carbon fee with the proceeds returned to all households as a dividend, that would cost most Americans nothing and would add jobs to the economy while reducing climate change.
Re: “Preparing for the inevitable: City looks at climate change”
When considering climate change action, I find the analogy of fire insurance helpful. Almost all homeowners pay modest amounts for fire insurance "just in case," though the actual chance of a fire is very low. Even if someone still isn't sure about the likelihood of climate change (despite the overwhelming consensus among climate scientists), wouldn't it be worth paying a small amount as insurance against the very expensive costs of sea level rise and increased extreme weather frequency? And fortunately there are proposals, such as a carbon fee with the proceeds returned to all households as a dividend, that would cost most Americans nothing and would add jobs to the economy while reducing climate change.