Historically, scientists and climate activists have been cautious about tying specific weather events to global warming. In “Angry Weather: Heat waves, floods, storms, and the new science of climate change” Dr. Friederike Otto, a pioneer in attributional science, explains that scientists now have a growing capacity to tie specific weather related events to the impact of climate change. Dr. Otto’s work is a significant contribution to the understanding of how global warming affects our life on this planet.
However, the effects of climate change today are now so significant that they can be observed casually. Dr. Katherine Hayhoe uses the term “climate weirding”explaining that the weather has become noticeably different because of global warming. Observation of recent weather events make clear the effect of climate weirding and the cost of it in our everyday lives. Recently, the flooding in Michigan was so extreme that many roads were washed out, dams failed and dozens more dams were at risk. Many roads that were not washed out were underwater so long that the road bed has deteriorated, requiring extensive repair. Your taxes and insurance rates will pay for this.
Insurance companies are acutely aware of the impact of climate change on insurance rates. In 2018, Dennis Haysberth said in an Allstate commercial, “There have been 26 one-in-500-year storms in the last decade.” Your insurance rates reflect this. Insurance rates are climbing dramatically because of “climate weirding.” There are states that have been hit so dramatically because of global warming that insurance companies will not insure homes. Nationally, insurance rates increased around 20% between 2022 and 2023, and Michigan is following a similar trajectory.
Climate scientists warn that Michigan will experience a significant increase in ice storms. In the last couple of years, ice storms have destroyed three million acres of forests in upper Michigan.
Foresters warn it will take decades for the forests to recover. Experts believe the damage from ice storms in the spring of 2025 are now setting us up for future disasters as millions of acres of storm-damaged forest in Northern Michigan are drying out and could fuel an unusually dangerous wildfire season this spring.
As of this writing, two serious wildfires have been reported in Michigan. One in Oscoda county that has covered 100 acres and one in Presque Isle County that has covered 180 and is not fully contained.
In 2023, smoke from fires in Canada choked much of the population in Michigan, exacerbating the health issues for people with lung disorders. Health insurance prices will reflect these health problems but other health costs will not be as easily measured. The fires were made much worse because of the drought in Canada, enhanced by global warming and covering an area greater than the land mass of Michigan. Lumber prices are much higher due to these phenomena. The hidden costs of these disasters are not reflected in the price of fossil fuel, the primary driver of climate change.
Despite the growing evidence, the idea persists that climate scientists have been wrong about global warming. Scientists readily admit they have made errors, but are documenting that destructive weather has progressed much faster than predicted. According to climate scientists the current weather pattern will only get worse. We, as a society, are at a turning point. We must take action, both individually and collectively.
By the time you read this, the Sierra Club Lansing Lobby Day will have passed. If we are to be successful in the fight against climate change, these efforts cannot be a one-day event. Two issues are the themes this year: data centers and community solar. Both have huge implications for global warming. Contact your legislators and ask them to put a moratorium on data centers. This will give us time to work on addressing the environmental issues around the enormous rush to build large data centers.
Community solar is another issue that can have a significant impact on global warming in the state. Community solar allows people who are renters or cannot have solar on their property to own a portion of a solar array. The participants have electricity at a lower cost. You can find out how to contact your legislator at this link.
Keep up to date with additional actions you can take through the Michigan Chapter Update and the weekly Sierra Club Lansing Minute by signing up here for the Michigan Chapter’s Instagram or Facebook pages.
We must get politicians to pass laws to protect us from global warming caused weather and climate phenomena. Also take individual action. Forty-three percent (43%) of carbon emissions are determined by individual actions. Buy energy efficient appliances. Your next car should be an EV. Get solar installed on your home. Switch from gas appliances to electric ones. Insulate your home. Time is short and we must act now.
Questions or comments can be directed to Mike Buza at theoriginalzuba@yahoo.com