“Climate Crisis Unleashed: Why We Should Be Outraged by Heat Domes, Wildfires, Floods, and Droughts” | Chattanooga Times Free Press

Right now, temperatures are soaring above 100 degrees in the mid-Atlantic states, affecting about 170 million Americans. This intense heat and humidity raise a crucial question: Is this linked to global warming? The answer is yes. Over the years, we’ve seen weather extremes like floods, hurricanes, droughts, and wildfires, and they seem to be getting worse. Unfortunately, while these crises escalate, the current administration is attempting to undo decades of environmental progress. Surprisingly, many people aren’t reacting strongly to this.

Back in the early 1990s, I frequently spoke about how environmental awareness was becoming a core American value. The early 1970s saw significant actions, like the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. By the mid-1990s, even Time magazine honored Earth as its “Man of the Year.” But I now wonder if I might have been overly optimistic.

On June 14, millions protested against what they saw as attacks on the Constitution. It showed that Americans could unite for a cause they care about. Yet, despite media coverage of the administration’s rollbacks on climate-related policies, we haven’t seen similar large-scale protests about environmental issues.

What’s alarming is the pace and severity of environmental problems today. Climate change is costing Americans far more than experts previously predicted. Nobel laureate William Nordhaus once estimated that a 3°C increase in temperature would only reduce global income by about 1%. But a recent Bloomberg Intelligence analysis suggests damages due to climate events might rise to nearly 3% of U.S. GDP, amounting to around $1 trillion annually by 2025.

This rise includes costs from disasters like Hurricanes Helene and Milton and California wildfires. While skeptics may doubt how accurately we can attribute damages to climate change, insurance companies are keenly aware of risk assessments, which show rising costs. Since 2000, climate change has cost Americans a staggering $7.7 trillion. To put that in perspective, that’s more than the combined costs of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

One might expect protests against these rising costs, similar to those against immigration policies or healthcare cuts. Yet many corporations have started to backtrack on climate efforts, a trend that began even before the current election cycle. This might be because people feel overwhelmed. With so many crises happening—from unqualified Cabinet appointments to military actions—it’s easy to get lost in the chaos.

Another factor could be our familiarity with the climate debate. Climate change has been a topic of discussion since 1988, attracting endless reports, protests, and policy changes. Sometimes, people struggle to prioritize risks. For instance, deer-related accidents claim far more lives than shark encounters, but many fear sharks more.

Ultimately, if environmental awareness is truly an American value, people should feel compelled to take action, regardless of other issues. The lack of strong reaction today might indicate a troubling trend for the future. As we face more environmental challenges, we must rediscover our commitment to this vital cause.

For further details on the financial impacts of climate change, you can check out this report from [Bloomberg Intelligence](https://www.bloomberg.com). And if you’re interested in climate advocacy, consider exploring resources from the [Environmental Protection Agency](https://www.epa.gov).

By understanding the urgent costs of climate change, we can better grasp the need for collective action.

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