The insurance companies are not science challenged
 

I heard a story on NPR's Marketplace last night about how the insurance companies are true believers in global warming. It is now a central part of insurance company coverage and underwriting decisions. They see the effects of global warming in their bottom line. Accordingly, they hire the scientists to study the risks, and they have determined that the risk is real. It appears that industries will only turn a blind eye to science if the scientific conclusions hurt their bottom line - isn't that right Big Oil?

Just do a Google search for "Insurance and global warming" and you will find dozens of stories.

Regards,

D-Ray

gee, maybe the oild companies have a motive to believe as they do?:rolleyes:

The climate changes all the time. The issue in doubt is how, and most important why.

Pete

The weather changes all of the time; the climate not so much. They're taking into account more and more severe storms because the temperature of the ocean has gone up and greater concern with flooding because of the higher sea level. We're not just talking about one mild winter or one rainy summer.

Regards,

D-Ray

Just another excuse to jack up your rates, or deny your claim.

If you ever read your policy, you will find that the party best protected is the insurance company itself.

Chas

+1. The answer to this and all similar questions is "follow the money."

So we're on the same page D, I'm not either (talking about one or two events).

The climate does change, sometimes rather suddenly, with catastrophic consequences. We've been pretty lucky the few hundred years all things considered.

And geological events as well. One thing I can think of, they believe there is a super volcano awaiting under Yellowstone, that has erupted before. And the whole CA thing. NO was bad, but not violent. Wait till a major city gets wiped out.

Anyway even assuming the humans-did-it crowd is correct (although they have no proof), it took all of human endeavour to do it accidently. There is no way to reverse it, we're talking terraforming on a scale beyond anything conceived before, beyond most folks comprehension. Probably beyond our ability into the forseeable future. And consider that China is bringing a new coal fired power plant online every week.

My take, if the sea level is going to rise, it's time to move to higher ground.

(where's the blah blah blah smiley when you need it? :))

Pete

I think you're on to something, Pete. I'm inclined to believe that global warming may exist, but from a pragmatic point-of-view I'm not sure we have the money or the technological capability to do anything meaningful about it (particularly if China and India don't play).

If you look at it in terms of dollars spent per live saved, there are lots of things that are better investments than spending gazillions to ensure that sea level doesn't go up a couple of feet in the next century (if the expenditure of gazillions could even guarantee that result). Providing clean drinking water and child immunizations to African nations comes to mind.

At 400 feet above sea level - what me worry? Since there are so many bull shit artists convincing the public otherwise, I imagine Wall Street will go under - the waves that is.

Finn, do you watch RTs' crossfire? It's kinda no holds barred, very entertaining.

They pitted a climate change skeptic, a wild looking English scientist (is it the hair?), against a very polite Nordic believer. The Brit said just about that.

I'm for clean for clean's sake, I love the outdoors. But they are talking so much money. I'm with you. Build to prepare for the rise? Start cleaning up the heavy metals becoming prevalent worldwide? [Male sperm count is way down, and frogs are dying off.]

And growth in income is the last word in pollution control and population control - 'they' (don't remember who) say at a given income level, folks start to worry about A, then B, etc. Makes sense, who cares about the planet when you're starving. But then, when you're at 100k apparently you have to buy a 3500 sf house & accessories, so maybe it doesn't matter.

Or terraform Mars :D Rob, we'll leave Wall Street behind lol.

Pete