Climate Change: A Simple Punter’s Guide To The Winners And Losers

Sunset on Hofn harbour, Iceland.

Depending on your view, climate change is either a ‘good thing’, or a bad thing. Specifically, a good thing if you’re rich, a bad thing if you’re poor. Dr Terry Russell explains.

It’s hard to find good news about climate change. From 1950 to 2013, the level of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere sky-rocketed to 400 parts per million, 30 per cent higher than any other time in human history, and in 2016 it’s risen to 404 parts per million. An October 2016 study found a growing risk of desertification in southern Europe.

But there may be good news for some wealthy countries and wealthy people. All that burning of fossil fuel could be benefitting the rich, at least if they can build high enough walls to keep out all the climate refugees. If we hear someone say ‘climate change is not all bad’, it’s probably because they are in one of the three ‘winning’ groups: geographic winners, business winners and those with coping measures.

Read the New Matilda story – “Climate Change: A Simple Punter’s Guide To The Winners And Losers.”