Upcoming Events
November 6: Jamesine Rogers on panel at Annual Business for Social Responsibility Conference; New York, NY
November 17: Kate Gordon speaks at Japan Climate Leaders Partnership (Japan-CLP) Climate Risk Symposium; Tokyo
What’s the Economic Risk From Climate Change?
Too often in the U.S., the climate conversation falls down one of two partisan rabbit holes—ending up either focused on the question of whether the science is “real” or whether one particular policy solution is a job killer or creator. In falling into these familiar debates, both supporters and opponents miss a basic question: How much economic risk do we face from climate change?
Climate Change Poses Serious Risks to U.S. Health Care System
Former HHS Sec. Donna Shalala and Johns Hopkins Dean Emeritus Dr. Alfred Sommer: "Imagine if we experienced multiple Chicago heat waves every summer, in cities all across the country. That is the direction we are headed unless we change course and take strong, decisive action to curb climate change."
Food giants Cargill and General Mills believe in climate change. Will they defend themselves from it?
"[Farmers] want to succeed and make money. It only makes sense that they look at the best science as they try to do that. And now, because they are trying to use the science rather than fight it, they are assessing it with an open mind, looking for the information that is most likely to help them," writes Nathanael Johnson of Grist, after interviewing Risk Committee member Greg Page.
Video: The Economic Costs of Climate Change
Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, Robert Rubin, and Michael Greenstone discuss the economic costs of inaction on climate change during a forum hosted by The Hamilton Project.
Has climate change become a business story?
Robert S. Eshelman reports a broad change in the media's discussion of climate change. Once restricted to the science page, since June it has begun to receive coverage on the business and financial pages. And business leaders are taking note.
Greg Page: Agriculture must engage in climate change discussion
"Everything that is challenging about producing more food for a world that is more populous, more urban and more affluent becomes more so when faced with a changing climate."
Robert Rubin: How ignoring climate change could sink the U.S. economy
"We do not face a choice between protecting our environment or protecting our economy. We face a choice between protecting our economy by protecting our environment — or allowing environmental havoc to create economic havoc."
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The Uncertain Nature of Real Estate and Climate Change
Former HUD Sec. Henry Cisneros: "We can still avoid most of the worst impacts of climate change, and significantly reduce the odds of costly, catastrophic outcomes—but only if we start changing our business and public policy decisions today. Real estate leaders must be attentive, informed, and prepared to act."
Reducing climate risks for coastal communities
Former U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe and former HHS Sec. Donna Shalala: "As a Republican and Democrat, we teamed up to make the case that at its core, climate change should not be a political issue. Instead, it is fundamentally about risks to our safety and economy, and how to reduce those risks."
The Coming Climate Crash
Henry Paulson on lessons for climate change in the 2008 recession: "We’re staring down a climate bubble that poses enormous risks to both our environment and economy. The warning signs are clear and growing more urgent as the risks go unchecked. This is a crisis we can’t afford to ignore."