Two Reports Reinforce Link between Environment and Economy

Two new reports, The World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Risks Report 2013 (http://reports.weforum.org/global-risks-2013/ ), and a draft of the third National Climate Assessment Report (http://www.globalchange.gov/what-we-do/assessment ) reinforce the validity of climate change and the interconnectedness of the economy and the environment.

“According to Munich Reinsurance America, North America has seen a five-fold increase in natural disasters in the past 30 years. In 2011, the German reinsurance giant also produced a report called “Severe Weather in North America.” According to the report, between 1980 and 2011, the overall loss from weather catastrophes was over $1 trillion. In 2012, there were a record number of extreme weather events which were eclipsed only by the number of such events in 2011. Hurricane Sandy alone cost an estimated $60 billion.”