Climatic changes

 

Feux de forêt dans le nord de l’Alberta

Climate change is a serious issue that affects our planet in many ways. Extreme weather events such as wildfires, floods, and out-of-season frosts have significant financial consequences. Insurance companies are no longer able to cover these losses, so affected populations turn to their governments for assistance. This reflex dates back to the feudal system and gave rise to the idea of a welfare state. In exchange for the protection of their tenants, lords imposed the gabelle. Today, our governments must protect their taxpayers in exchange for their taxes. However, it is important to understand that they cannot solve everything because ultimately we are the ones who pay.

So the question that arises is: what do we want as a society? Do we want to be compensated without limits and increase our tax burden? Or accept to assume part of the losses suffered and limit tax increases? It’s a societal choice.

Let’s take the example of apple growers who are claiming millions of dollars from the government for loss of yield due to frost. They must realize that what they are claiming today, they will have to repay later. Insurers work in the same way. The overall increase in claims increases your insurance premium the following year. But there is a breaking point. When people can no longer afford to pay their insurance premiums, they stop insuring themselves. Few people know it, but more and more cars are driving without insurance. The same goes for home insurance, people take the risk of losing everything.

Whether we like it or not, no matter the consequences, people must eat and have a place to live before paying their insurance premium. This is what happens with the rampant inflation we are currently experiencing. And when people, insurers, can no longer assume their responsibilities, it is the government that must take over. Example: The Lac-Mégantic rail tragedy that cost taxpayers $280 million. And that’s not to mention the 47 deaths whose loss is priceless. Yet we are talking here about an accident that could have been avoided.

Since January 2023, climate disruptions have been following one another at an unsustainable pace. If 2022 was marked by migrants, in 2023 it is climate change that concerns populations. In both cases, it’s unprecedented. From there we wonder what 2024 has in store for us. And we wonder especially what the price will be.

Note : Pourquoi en anglais, moi qui suis pourtant un ardent défenseur du français.

Selon Statista, le français est la 4ème langue la plus utilisée pour le contenu web avec 3.7% des sites web en français¹.  Selon W3Techs, l’anglais représente 55% de tous les sites web².

Donc en publiant en anglais les probabilités d’être lu sont plus grandes. Et comme beaucoup de gens c’est pour ça qu’on écrit. Et même si pour être lu je dois m’adapter, pour autant je ne pense pas renier mes origines.