Casten Questions Climate Experts on the Devastating Economic Costs of Climate Inaction after Report that 8 counties in the US Accounted for 50% of all Flood Insurance
Washington, D.C. – During today's Select Committee on the Climate Crisis hearing Congressman Sean Casten questioned leading climate experts on the devastating economic cost of climate inaction. Through his questioning, Rep. Casten highlighted the threat to the U.S. economy as projections show that climate change will put communities underwater. Currently in the United States, 40% of Americans live in coastal areas where sea level plays a role in flooding, shoreline erosion, and hazards from storms. This puts entire industries—from tourism and hospitality to farming and manufacturing—at risk.
Casten opened his remarks by discussing global temperatures, noting that the last time the planet was this hot was 125,000 years ago, before asking Dr. Waleed Abdalati of the University of Boulder to describe the risks to the United States if sea levels were to rise to this extent. In response, Dr. Abdalati stated that if sea levels were to rise 10 meters, the states of Florida, Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, and more would be full or partially underwater.
Casten then questioned, Dr. Michael Greenstone of the University of Chicago on the economic costs of climate inaction, citing the report published earlier this week eight counties across Alabama, Florida, and Louisiana accounted for 50% of all flood insurance claims in the United States.
In response, Dr. Greenstone said, "Now, with respect to the Corn Belt where you and I are from. I think there is also going to be really concentrated damages there. The best evidence is that the Corn Belt, which produces so much corn and soybeans, will basically become unusable for those, for those crops. And so, you will have generations of families who have grown those crops and produce them for the American people and the world will no longer be able to do that and there'll be a very large transition costs associated there."
A full video of the hearing can be found here. You can watch Rep. Casten's questioning here:
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