World-wide insurance industry leader Lloyd’s of London has issued a call for insurers to begin adding the impacts of climate change and sea-level rise into the risk calculations that insurers make when writing policies. In an article in the UK’s Guardian newspaper, Lloyd’s noted that annual average losses had quadrupled from the 80s to the…
A May 6, 2014 article in the New York Times discusses Pew Research Center and Gallup polls showing that lower percentages in the United States see climate change as a threat than in most other countries. In fact, the article notes that only 40% of those in the United States see climate change as a…
Due to inclusion of language in an omnibus funding bill signed by President Obama on January 17, 2014, the Federal Emergency Management Agency recently released an advisory document which indicates that FEMA has stopped any planning to implement section 207 of the Biggert-Waters Act. Section 207 of BW12 instructed the National Flood Insurance Program to…
In late December of 2013, FEMA formally announced that it will now allow state, territorial, or tribal applicants for hazard mitigation assistance to include sea-level rise in their applications. Hazard mitigation assistance grant applicants have to demonstrate, via a benefit-cost analysis, that the proposed project will save as much or more money than it costs…
New Jersey is offering about $9.4 million to buy out 33 homeowners in a vulnerable part of New Jersey. Many of the homes for which the offer is extended were destroyed or severely damaged by Sandy. The article notes apparent unanimous support for the buyout by owners of the affected properties. This stems in part…
Here’s a word of caution about attributing any particular weather event to climate change. We’ve all seen stories in the popular press about weather events over the past few years, like the recent cold snaps, and how they may be some indication of climate change. In fact, it’s easy to find news and opinion articles…
NOAA Climate Connection this month features the 2013 Arctic Report Card, a new study on Abrupt Impacts of Climate Change, and a link to the interactive website, Global Carbon Atlas. Regular features include the November National Monthly Climate Report and a schedule of upcoming webinars. Click here for a link to the newsletter.
On December 13, 2013 another bill was introduced into the U.S. House of Representative that would delay the implementation of parts of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (BW12). The bill’s full text is available here. This bill, known as the “Flood Insurance Relief and Transparency Act of 2013,” is even more modest…
Over the past two weeks or so, there has been significant media coverage of sea-level rise. The Miami-Herald had a story about how rising sea levels could affect real estate values here. The Miami-Herald also has a week-long series on sea-level rise and Florida called “Elevation: Zero.” The series discusses sea-level rise projections, real estate…
Florida Sea Grant and Escambia County Extension present two programs on flood insurance November 18, 2013 in Pensacola. The morning program is for real estate professionals and the evening program for members of the public. The presentations will give some background on the National Flood Insurance Program, look at how the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of…