Rising Property Values, Not Climate Change, Causing Rising Disaster Costs

[rangerrebew]

Rising Property Values, Not Climate Change, Causing Rising Disaster Costs
By
H. Sterling Burnett -
December 28, 20200
 

Google News today is promoting a misleading article by the The Guardian titled, “Weather disasters cost $150bn in 2020, revealing impact of climate change – report.” The article falsely links the high costs of natural disasters in 2020 to purported human-caused climate change. In reality, evidence shows any higher loses were due to increasing numbers of people moving to and building expensive property in areas historically prone to natural disasters, not climate change. Indeed, long-term data indicates there has been no increase in the number or severity of natural disasters in recent decades. Also, 2020 was not unusual historically.

Referencing a study from the group Christian Aid, The Guardian writes, “From Australian bushfires to Atlantic hurricanes, insurance damages were the highest annual total ever. The world’s 10 costliest weather disasters of 2020 saw insured damages worth $150bn, topping the figure for 2019 and reflecting a long-term impact of global warming.”

Regarding wildfires, long-term data show the number of wildfires and acreage consumed by wildfires has declined dramatically over the past century. Indeed, the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service reports, “2020 was one of the lowest years for active fires globally.”

https://climaterealism.com/2020/12/rising-property-values-not-climate-change-causing-rising-disaster-costs/