Ironically, Alaska Kicking Butt in Climate Change Mitigation
Alaska, a deeply Republican/Libertarian state, is extremely active in climate change mitigation, with aggressive policies to limit greenhouse gas emissions, principally because it has so much to lose. In fact, it’s already seen vast swaths of coastal land disappear due to sea-level rise, resulting in the forced migration of people who’ve lived in these areas for many generations.
While I don’t want to look a gift horse in the mouth, I need to point out that Alaska does not live under a bubble, and that, accordingly, there is nothing they can do of any consequence on their own. The U.S. represents 14.7% of total emissions, and Alaska represents 0.64% of the U.S. emissions; thus what they’re doing is inconsequential.
Having said that, let’s remember Gandhi: “Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.”
Craig,
In the words of a former President, “there you go again” !
“vast swaths of coastal land disappear due to sea-level rise, resulting in the forced migration of people who’ve lived in these areas for many generations”.
The U.S. Geological Service (USGS)disagrees with your sensationalist pronouncement, as does the State of Alaska. ” Rising Sea Levels” has no proven role in the coastal erosion occurring in some parts of Northern Alaska. The true cause is most likely where retreating sea ice no longer acts as buffer for storms, and increased river flows.
The idea of “mass migration” is a hysterical exaggeration. These tiny villages were mostly built many years ago during the sealing era and built on the very edge of the water. As these activities ceased some of native villages remained although many many buildings were abandoned or only used during the summer season.
Some of the more famous settlements are constructed on permafrost or islands, the largest of these is Shishmaref with a population of 614, which needs relocating to the mainland.
Shishmaref is a village of old wood or tin prefabricated buildings with no paved roads, and very little infrastructure. The per capita income for Shishmaref is he per capita is $10,487. 20% below the poverty line. The town lives on welfare.
Activist lawyers for Shishmaref claimed the sum of $540 million, nearly $900,000 per resident, or $3,800,000 per household.
The Obama administration estimated the cost of moving Shishmaref at $180 million, or nearly nearly $320,000 per resident. In 2013 the village was told no federal money was available and considerable outrage and protests were organized when John Kerry announced Vietnam would receive $17 million to deal with climate change.
At the President’s request, the new administration is assessing the viability of relocating the village to a former Air-force faculty.
Coastlines are never permanent, but constantly moving and changing. The factors governing coastal movements are very complex and not altogether understood. Attributing everything to “climate Change” isn’t really helpful.