Climate Change--Who Pays?

[COL Mustard]

This article in the New York Times discusses climate change and the very real effects in an area I know and love--the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Full disclosure...I'm a property owner there, but not in Avon, so I understand the concern as much as the people who live in Avon, Buxton, and other places. And yes, I pay real estate taxes in Dare County. I'd be willing to pay more to solve the problem there, and I have a hard time understanding people who don't want to pay higher taxes to help themselves.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/14/climate/outer-banks-tax-climate-change.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

Excerpt: Tiny Town, Big Decision: What Are We Willing to Pay to Fight the Rising Sea?
On the Outer Banks, homeowners in Avon are confronting a tax increase of almost 50 percent to protect their homes, the only road into town, and perhaps the community’s very existence.

[marble falls]

1. The poor and the third world. Like usual.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

2. It seems as if the parts of this country, meaning along the oceans,

most likely to be adversely impacted by climate change are also most likely to be denying the reality.

[Shermann]

3. I'm skeptical of all the skepticism

It's relatively straightforward to demonstrate that somebody's beliefs or assertions are either unsound or invalid. It's much more difficult to demonstrate that somebody is being overly skeptical as they cling to their "default position" of rejecting a well-supported scientific theory.

There appears to be a large overlap between the anti-mask/anti-vax crowd and the climate denial crowd. There is also a large overlap between this crowd and the crowd who have demonstrated inadequate skepticism of claims by their political and religious leaders.

Why can't they seem to find the "goldilocks zone" of skepticism and apply it evenly across the board?

[hunter]

4. Eventually we have to figure out how to relocate entire communities, rich and poor alike.

Letting everyone fend for themselves won't hurt the very wealthy, will impoverish the middle class, and cause immense suffering and deaths among those already living in poverty.

[spinbaby]

5. A friend pointed me to a real estate listing this morning

It was for a 1938 cottage in Hawaii that was so close to the water it was practically in the ocean—seriously, the water was practically lapping at the door. I’m betting that, when it was built in 1938, it was a good bit farther inland. One bedroom, one bath, about to be washed away, yours for only $655,000.

The address, if you’re interested in this imminent victim of climate change:
54-005 Kamehameha Hwy, Hauula, HI 96717

[COL Mustard]

6. I Hope You Didn't Buy It

While I'd love to have oceanfront property in Hawaii, that's a little too close for me!

[spinbaby]

8. Oh, hell no.

Even if I could afford it, I wouldn’t touch that place. But it was sent to me as an example of what happens to oceanfront property with climate change. My sister could have lived oceanfront in North Carolina, but chose to live a few miles inland for this very reason.

[Donkees]

7. ''Original 1938 cottage is now non-conforming and encroaches into State-owned shoreline.''

[COL Mustard]

9. It's Only A Matter Of Time

Until the ocean reclaims it. I wouldn't want to own it. Imagine the insurance premiums!