Hurricane Beryl has reached a Category 5 designation. No Atlantic storm has hit this level so early in the year. It reminds us of a warming Atlantic and unusually high temperatures in the water east of Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. The storm may kill scores of people. Climatecrisis247 believes it is also a storm that could damage hundreds of millions of dollars. If a similar storm made landfall in the US, the price tag would be well into the billions of dollars, and repairs to damaged areas would take months. Productivity in areas affected could also be catastrophically undermined.
Climate Economics –Ruin US Tourism
Storms –Earliest Big Hurricane In History
Ships that damage the Arctic area because of their oil fuel face new regulations. According to the BBC, “A ban on the dirtiest and most climate-damaging fuel for ships has come into effect in Arctic waters. Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) is a tar-like, thick but relatively cheap oil that is widely used in shipping around the world, especially tankers. However, HFO is particularly damaging in the Arctic, where the black carbon it emits when burned speeds up the melting of snow and ice.” International Maritime Organisation (IMO) enacted the ban. Russia, one of the major polluters, did not participate. Climatedcrisis247 believes this is an example of how governments can work together to stop certain types of pollution. Cooperation at this level is rare, so the move is heartening.
Brazil Flood Relocaton
Floods may create a class of climate refugees in Brazil. This is the first time the trend has been a major problem. According to NPR, “Record rains in southern Brazil due to climate change have many officials thinking about relocating towns. That would be hard for many who don’t want to leave despite inevitable reoccurring floods.” Climatecrisis247 believes that this is a global problem. In some countries, like India, it is likely to have a much greater scale than Brazil. There, millions of people have no place to go to avoid high temperatures and floods. There will be tremendous infrastructure, financial, and military consequences as the number of refugees multiplies.
Rain Destroy Crops
Tropical rains may move north in upcoming decades, disrupting weather patterns that have not changed in centuries–or longer. According to Smart Water, this could lessen warm rains near the Equator. The medium reports, “Tropical regions on either side the equator, such as central African nations, northern South America, and Pacific island states, among other regions, would be the most affected. Major crops grown in the tropics include coffee, cocoa, palm oil, bananas, sugarcane, tea, mangoes, and pineapples.” Climatecrisis247 believes this is yet another example of how crop production can be changed or ruined by climate change with disastrous consequences. Drought in Africa is one such problem. Ruined cocoa crops in West Africa, which have made the price of chocolate soar, are another.
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