Sun Editorial:

Reasons to go ‘green’

Fighting climate change is good for the Earth and good for the bank account

Monday, June 8, 2009 | 2:03 a.m.

An international consulting firm has come out with a report that urges developed countries to work much harder to avert the worst projected outcomes of climate change.

The report was written by New York-based Dalberg Global Development Advisers and commissioned by the Global Humanitarian Forum, an organization headed by former U.N. Secretary Kofi Annan.

Currently, the report says, 300,000 deaths a year worldwide are directly related to climate change, a number that will grow to 500,000 by 2030 if efforts to drastically cut back on greenhouse gases are not undertaken.

Greenhouse gases, which prevent heat from escaping into space, are created primarily by the burning of coal and oil.

The report also says that today, 325 million people around the world are seriously affected by climate change, a number now projected to double in 20 years. Effects include drought, rising temperatures, melting sea ice, soil-damaging downpours, oceans that are more acidic and increasing populations of disease-spreading insects.

Economic losses from climate change amount to $125 billion a year today and will be $340 billion a year by 2030 unless greenhouse gases are reduced, the report says.

The report is just one of dozens warning of climate change that have been published by reputable organizations. Yet there is hope.

One of the surest ways to encourage change is to make it profitable. A recent Reuters survey of “green collar” workers — those working in renewable energy fields — showed that their average worldwide salary is $76,000 a year. In the United States, the average is $100,000.

We hope word of the survey spreads. What better way to start the drastic move away from fossil fuels that report after report say is so necessary?

Discussion: 4 comments so far…

By uddeboda

6/8/09 at 5:35 a.m.

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Do you really think anyone is listening to this article??
By Future

6/8/09 at 6:05 a.m.

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New York-based Dalberg Global Development Advisers said "Currently, the report says, 300,000 deaths a year worldwide are directly related to climate change .... Economic losses from climate change amount to $125 billion a year"

While there are many weather related deaths and cost every year it is unclear from the LV Sun's reading of this "just one of dozens warning of climate change that have been published by reputable organizations" as to how each of the people died due to weather "CHANGE".

The LV Sun should be explaining how the "CHANGE" in the weather last year murdered 300,000 people.

Did a temperature rise or fall of .0001 degrees do this?

What were the "direct" causal mechanisms.

There is no information in this editorial.

The LV Sun opined "We hope word of the survey spreads."

Survey? Nobody called me. And I do not know anyone that died due to global warming.
By neiman1

6/8/09 at 8:21 a.m.

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More GE and Al Gore propaganda. This garbage science has been shown to be a money grab of the worst kind. The sun is shining, it is shining on the plot to steal billions from Americans by a few traitors.
By rusty57

6/8/09 at 9:05 a.m.

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The authors suggest that "inter-clan fighting in Somalia" is a product of climate change. A likelier explanation is the collapse of a functioning Somali government and the rise of jihadists in the region. Beware the Climate-Change-Industrial-Complex. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB12442456...

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