Donald Trump denies the existence of climate change. But science and data refute him. A new report released Tuesday by the Office of Government Responsibility (GAO) concludes that the U.S. government has spent more than $350 billion in its responses to extreme temperature changes such as Floods or fires.
In the paper, GAO asks Trump to use the information provided to “prepare appropriate federal responses” as well as identify the potential risks posed by climate change for the country’s stability. The government agency also estimates that the rise in temperatures could lead to losses of $150 billion for 2099.
The study, completed after two years of interviews with experts and analysis of dozens of documents, is the last reminder of the serious economic consequences — as well as environmental — for America. In recent months, Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria have vigorously whipped the country in Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico, respectively, causing irreparable or highly costly damage to the White House. This week the Senate will vote for a $36.5 billion aid package for the west of the country after the devastating fires in California last week, which caused the deaths of more than 40 people, the loss of 8,400 buildings and a cost of 1 billion D Ólares.
Despite the recommendations and the data, there is little hope that Trump will intercede. During his rise to power, in 2016, the Republican who now occupies the most important office in the world asserted that climate change was a phenomenon invented by the Chinese. In its still short term, the president has withdrawn the United States from the Paris agreement against climate change — a pact to which all nations of the world are subscribed minus three — and placed to a global warming denier against the agency Environmental. Their decisions in this area have been widely rejected by world-class scientists and scholars, who fear that Trump’s and pro’s protectionist policies toward industries such as mining can be a throwback to the move towards solutions for Preserving the environment.
Spending over the last decade corresponds to less than 1% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), so it is not feared that Trump will cut back on the resources dedicated to solving emergencies caused by natural phenomena.
