The Stream, November 10: Texas Lobbies U.S. Government for $61B to “Future Proof” for Natural Disasters
The Global Rundown
Texas requests $61 billion from the U.S. federal government in order to “future proof” for natural disasters. An array of legal obstacles stand in the way of successful climate migration in the Pacific Islands. Experts question whether governments are doing enough to prepare for 3-degree Celsius rise in global temperatures. The island of Fiji needs to spend billions to build its resilience to climate change, according to a recent vulnerability assessment. Landslides on logged forests will become more common as the climate changes, researchers in the Pacific Northwest find.
“We are not safe, because we are moving towards a 3 degrees world, and our governments are not ready.” –Harjeet Singh, global lead on climate change for ActionAid International, in reference to worldwide efforts to prepare for global warming. Experts warn that most governments are drawing plans based on the Paris Agreement, which assumes that global temperatures will be kept below 2-degree Celsius, despite predictions that the world could warm by up to 3-degrees Celsius. Reuters
By The Numbers
$4.5 billion Amount that Fiji needs to spend over the next decade to build climate change resilience, according to the first comprehensive assessment of the island’s vulnerability. The assessment notes that raising the full amount of money, which is equivalent to Fiji’s entire yearly GDP, would require investments from other nations. The Guardian
$61 billion Amount that the state of Texas is requesting from the U.S. government in order to “future proof” the state before another major storm hits. The grant would fund projects such as new reservoirs, dike systems, reinforced seawalls, and a physical barrier to better protect the Gulf Coast. ABC News
Science, Studies, And Reports
A study conducted by Washington State University estimates that more landslides will take place on logged land as global warming alters precipitation. Researchers modeled their study on an area of clear-cut land on the Olympic Peninsula and analyzed factors such as soil variations, land cover, and subsurface moisture. Science Daily
On The Radar
Rising sea levels are likely to force Pacific Islanders from their homes soon, making them among the first people to migrate as a result of climate change. Putting a regional plan in place now could avert future migration emergencies, but experts caution that integrating human rights, climate change, and migration law throughout the Pacific Islands will be a daunting task. Reuters
In context: Climate change threatens health of Pacific island nations.
Kayla Ritter is a recent graduate of Michigan State University, where she studied International Relations and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. She is currently based in Manton, Michigan. Kayla enjoys running, writing, and traveling. Contact Kayla Ritter
