2017 Weather and Climate Damages in the United States Totaled $306 Billion

Are you wondering when big organizations and politicians are going to pay vital attention to climate change? Well, hope has not yet been found, and this is due to selfish interests, fancy speeches, marches, etc. Certainly, the attention needed will surface when the financial cost associated with climate change becomes so extreme for brokers to take care of. We all know the popular saying “money makes the world go round” well, losing lots of cash will bring these big players to their senses. Since lots of money have been lost in 2017, well, the day that we will count so much loss is getting much closer by the day.

No doubts, 2017 was regarded as one of the hottest years in modern revolution and in that year, it has cost us so much. However, due to a recent news from the National Centers for Environmental Information, which is part of the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). According to an annual report, it has been confirmed that the U.S has witnessed losses that exceed $2 billion, thus, totaling about $306 billion.

Furthermore, a statement by the federal agency has stated drastic events that have occurred in the United State plus the wildfires in the west. It is important to note that all of these events have cost about $ 18 billion which means it has tripled in cost from the aforementioned annual wildfire record in the United States.

It is also needful to know that the number of hurricanes that occurred in 2017 has also cost not only the United States but other places that it had occurred. One type of hurricane called “Hurricane Harvey” cost the U.S more than $ 100 billion. Other hurricanes like Maria and Irma had also cost the U.S $90 billion and $50 billion separately.

It is also worth knowing that selfish individuals in the Congress in the U.S discarded tax deductions for the casualties lost in this disasters for personal interests.

From the stable of Property Casualty 360 late last year, it has been affirmed that brokers may lose more than $190 billion in 2017. Due to this news, many of these brokers began to adjust their rates for them to cover the increased risks, several companies began to send their $1000 to beg with Congress to act fast. As you can see, President Trump has already backed off from acting against climate change. The effects of our actions may come so soon then we have expected if things aren’t done the right way.

As we all know, 2005 was another year that had cost the U.S much money, due to the drastic events that occurred. Losses from Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma, and Rita will never be forgotten.

Certain natural disasters like storms, drought, wildfires, cyclones that occurred last year didn’t cost the U.S financially, they also caused lots of causalities where recorded. According to NOAA NCEI Climate, it has been reported that approximately $16 billion disasters were recorded in 2017; the U.S also witnessed more than 200 weather and climate disasters since 1980, thus, the losses totaled approximately $1.5 trillion.

2017 was recorded the third warmest year since annual records were taken since 1895. Also, according to these reports, 54.6 degrees Fahrenheit is the average temperature of the United States last year, thus increasing by 2.6 degrees more than the normal average.

Another report from the Copernicus Climate Change Service has recently placed 2017 as the second-warmest year.

“Certain concerns have been going up due to the fact that sixteen out of seventeen warmest years have been in this century” this statement was made by the head of Copernicus. Lots of scientific agreement has been made due to the increase in greenhouse emissions, but most of them have been futile due to some selfish interest in the government.

Nevertheless, the NOAA report had briefly stated the increased costs of climate and weather catastrophes in spite of the cynicism and the indifference made by the government under the leadership of President Donald Trump toward the Paris accord to combat climate change from the list of threats that affect humanity.

“I was elected to represent the citizen of Pittsburgh, not Paris,” said President Trump after withdrawing the U.S support for the Paris accord on climate change. The president also stated that the Paris accord “confines the U.S, but empowers top polluting counties in the world”.

Trump’s administration is quite different from the previous one and it has unveiled a new strategy that focuses more on protecting the homeland and increasing the influence of the US In an ever competitive world.

However, a document that stated the national security of Trump’s administration has shown that it will show no support to reduce the burning of fossil fuels for energy.

“The United States government is central to counter an energy agenda that is detrimental to the U.S economy and energy security interest” the document declared.

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About Rinkesh

A true environmentalist by heart ❤️. Founded Conserve Energy Future with the sole motto of providing helpful information related to our rapidly depleting environment. Unless you strongly believe in Elon Musk‘s idea of making Mars as another habitable planet, do remember that there really is no 'Planet B' in this whole universe.