California’s 2018 wildfires cost the US economy $148.5 billion

Highlights

• According to Nature Sustainability, the 2018 wildfires resulted in a $148.5 billion economic loss for the United States
• At the peak of the Camp Fire in November, nearly 40% of the state’s population was breathing air deemed unhealthy or worse and an estimated 3,652 people died from air pollution
• About $88.6 billion was lost from indirect economic impacts from the fires nationwide
• Within the state, Sacramento County suffered the greatest losses even though they didn’t experience any fires 
• Climate change is an issue that affects the health, safety, and financial well-being of Americans throughout the nation

Scientists are increasingly warning that to avoid catastrophic impacts from climate change, the world’s governments must implement policies for massive greenhouse gas emissions reductions and begin a drawdown of carbon from the atmosphere within ten years. With 9 of 15 global tipping points now active, what we do today can either unleash an inhospitable hothouse Earth or secure a safe climate well into the future. For a safe and healthy future for all, endorse the Climate-Safe California Platform to implement scalable solutions that can reverse the climate crisis.

Read More: https://earther.gizmodo.com/californias-hellish-2018-wildfires-cost-the-u-s-econom-1845824226