Monday, January 10, 2011

Climate Change Concerns: Will extreme weather events create more debt?

The Aussies are talking about a billion dollars worth of damage due to their latest flooding event in Queensland.

I don’t doubt their numbers. They had a similar flood a few years ago. Stoic beggars.

Here in SW Ontario, municipal governments will soon have to pay a few high bills as a result of our recent snow event. And if we consider the cause, higher bills will likely be on the way.


["My advice: Buy a bigger snow shovel": photo GH]

A local writer says, “Due to the third warmest summer in recorded history, the lake temperature was about 1.5 (degrees) C warmer than normal and as a result more moisture evaporated and condensed to snow and the lake effect was much greater than many of us had ever experienced. Severe weather events are a part of our lives and municipalities and regular citizens need to understand that storms of the past may not be the same as storms of today.” (I. Greasley, Letter to Editor, Dec. 24, London Free Press)

Londoners are experiencing warmer temperatures year by year, on average.

Will we be able to afford the higher bills related to weather events in our area?

If budgets get tighter, what services will we cut? Snow removal?

My advice: Live small, reduce spending, pay down debt, save money for tough times ahead.

And buy a bigger snow shovel.

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Another word about Climate Change Concerns (and Australia) is posted here.
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