We are all at 'ground zero' in the battle against climate change.
The price of ignoring climate change is now greater than the cost of the solutions.
Last night flood waters cascaded into the 'ground zero' site at the World Trade Centre after a storm surge from Hurricane Sandy hit the New York and New Jersey shorelines. The term refers to the epicenter of destruction caused by a nuclear bomb but it also applies to large scale natural disasters.
Scientists are recognising (1)that weather events are becoming more extreme as the environment in which they occur becomes warmer and more moist.
The cost of climate change is also rising. A recent report (2) from Munich Re insurance showed the cost of weather related events in America grew five fold in the last thirty years to over one trillion dollars, with a loss of 30,000 lives.
Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan said today: "The events in New York could be the moment when it becomes clear that the price of ignoring climate change is greater than the cost of solving the problem."
"The fact that climate change was not mentioned in the US presidential debates shows up a lack of political leadership in explaining the risks that are involved and the opportunities that are possible if we change to a new low carbon economy."
"In the last thirty years politics was dominated by a 'greed is good' mentality that came from Wall Street. That culture got us into economic trouble but last night it was underwater because it also ignored our environmental reality."
"Hurricane Sandy dealt a hard blow to New York City but perhaps it will inspire a turning point, where we no longer accept the price that will come from ignoring the problem. We need public support for action to grow to levels which the political system cannot ignore because when it comes to climate change we are all close to 'ground zero'."
(1) Scientists from the National Centrefor Atmosphere Research outline how climate is effecting hurricane events: http://www.latimes.com/news/
(2) Munich Re report onthe cost of climate change events: http://www.munichre.com/en/
ENDS