News / UK by Press Association 24/12/2018, 12:02 am FacebookTwitterWhatsAppEmail Send us a story Sign up to our Daily newsletter Smaller Scottish companies feel less prepared to cope with the impact of climate change compared to larger firms, according to a new poll. The survey of 300 businesses, commissioned by WWF Scotland, indicates only two in five of Scotland’s small and medium-sized firms feel prepared to deal with the risks of climate change. More than three-quarters of larger businesses stated they are either fully or partly prepared. They also dwarfed small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by the proportion of responses suggesting climate change does pose a threat, with 85% of big business agreeing it is a risk compared to 23% of SMEs. Gina Hanrahan, head of policy at WWF Scotland, said: “These findings should ring a warning bell for our political and business leaders that many of the smaller companies that form the backbone of Scotland’s … [Read more...] about Smaller companies feel less prepared for impact of climate change: study
Economic risks of climate change
Mapfre collaborates with the UN to assess the impact of climate change on the insurance industry
Mapfre is joining the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative, along with 15 other leading insurers, in order to assess the impact of climate change and to incorporate the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures in the insurance industry. This working group is developing a series of tools to assess the risks, to provide relevant information to investors about the effects of this global phenomenon and to help in the transition toward low-carbon climate-resistant societies and economies. "As a global insurance company, Mapfre is participating in the commitment to contribute to defining a standard of technical and financial action for the entire sector that will help the insurance industry to manage the risks and opportunities of the transition toward a low-carbon economy and to reduce the impact of climate change for the whole of society," says Fernando Mata, Mapfre's chief Financial officer. Global warming is generating adverse trends … [Read more...] about Mapfre collaborates with the UN to assess the impact of climate change on the insurance industry
Trump on dire economic impact of climate change: \
Ledyard King USA TODAY Published 6:38 PM EST Nov 26, 2018 WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump told reporters Monday he's not buying the dire economic forecast that was included as part of an exhaustive climate change report his administration issued Friday. "I don't believe it," he said when asked about the conclusions of the 1,600-page National Climate Assessment that details the climate and economic impacts U.S. residents will see if drastic action is not taken to address climate change. In a worst-case scenario, top scientists from 13 federal agencies say in the report, climate change – primarily caused by human activity – could deliver a 10 percent hit to the nation's GDP by the end of the century. During an impromptu session with reporters as he was leaving the White House to campaign for Mississippi Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, the president downplayed the findings of the congressionally mandated climate report. … [Read more...] about Trump on dire economic impact of climate change: \
Felipe Calderon: The Human Cost of Climate Change
Opinion Climate Change Home is a place of stability and security. It is a place where families come together to work towards and celebrate mutual prosperity. But as the human and economic toll of climate change continues to rise, we face legitimate risk of this sense of home being uprooted. Last year, devastating floods in South Asia took over 1,200 lives and affected over 20 million people, including 6.8 million children. With an estimated 18,000 schools destroyed or damaged throughout Bangladesh, India and Nepal, the education of hundreds of thousands of children is under threat, long after the waters have receded. 2017 was also one of the costliest years for weather disasters in the United States. Hurricanes Harvey and Irma caused almost US$200 billion in damage in just Texas and Florida, while the California wildfires could eventually cost up to $65 billion in property damage. Unfortunately, initial forecasts reveal that 2018 is also likely to bring an above-average season … [Read more...] about Felipe Calderon: The Human Cost of Climate Change
We must not let education become the forgotten casualty of climate change
On World Environment Day, there will be plenty of words spoken about the obvious damage being wreaked by climate change - the chaos of hurricanes, wild fires and melting polar ice caps is there for all to see. But there’s another more hidden casualty of this new world of rising temperatures, drought, and increased natural disasters: the education of our young people. At the simplest level, the wilder weather that we’re already seeing means children are prevented from getting to school. Hurricanes Irma and Harvey meant 1.7 million US students were temporarily unable to go to school last year – and officials in Puerto Rico have also recently announced plans to close over 280 schools following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Maria. In wealthier nations, the damage caused by the increasing occurrence of extreme weather events more often than not tends to cause temporary disruption to children’s education. But in poorer countries, the consequences … [Read more...] about We must not let education become the forgotten casualty of climate change