U.S. Government to Stop Tracking the Costs of Extreme Weather

The U.S. government has announced that it will no longer track the costs of extreme weather events, a decision that has raised concerns among scientists, policymakers, and the public. This move comes as the country continues to grapple with the devastating impacts of climate change, including more frequent and severe weather events such as hurricanes, wildfires, and floods.

The decision to stop tracking the costs of extreme weather events was made by the Biden administration, which cited budget constraints as the reason for the change. The government had previously been tracking the costs of these events in order to better understand their impacts on the economy and to inform policy decisions related to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Critics of the decision argue that by not tracking the costs of extreme weather events, the government will be unable to accurately assess the economic impacts of climate change and prioritize investments in resilience and adaptation measures. Without this data, policymakers may be ill-equipped to make informed decisions about how to address the growing threat of extreme weather events.

Additionally, tracking the costs of extreme weather events is crucial for holding polluters accountable and ensuring that they bear the financial burden of the damages caused by their activities. By not tracking these costs, the government may be inadvertently allowing polluters to evade responsibility for the harm they are causing to communities and the environment.

The decision to stop tracking the costs of extreme weather events also raises questions about the government’s commitment to addressing climate change and protecting the public from its impacts. With the recent release of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s report highlighting the urgent need for action to curb greenhouse gas emissions and prevent catastrophic climate change, now is not the time for the government to backpedal on efforts to understand and mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events.

In response to the government’s decision, many scientists, environmentalists, and advocates are calling for increased transparency and accountability in tracking the costs of extreme weather events. They argue that this information is critical for informing policy decisions, protecting vulnerable communities, and ensuring a sustainable and resilient future for all.

Overall, the government’s decision to stop tracking the costs of extreme weather events is a concerning development that has the potential to have far-reaching implications for climate change policy and public safety. It is essential that the government reconsider this decision and prioritize efforts to accurately track and address the economic impacts of extreme weather events in order to protect the well-being of current and future generations.