Here is the main practical reason that developed countries have been reluctant to pay up on #ClimateFinance, #LossAndDamage, and generally helping developing countires: we owe a lot.
As in, thousands of dollars for every citizen in developed countries. Every year. Until 2050.
This paper spells it out, by country:
"The #compensation system is based on the idea that the #atmosphere is a #commons, a natural resource for everyone to use equitably and sustainably."
"A vicious cycle of crippling #debt, #disaster, and more burdensome repayments prevent [low to middle income countries] from investing in climate #resilience, strengthening democratic institutions, and delivering public services that can reduce economic and social #inequalities."
An apartment building in Iowa partially collapsed on Sunday. My friend recently moved in there and his apartment was on the side that collapsed. He is unharmed, and so is his puppy. But he lost EVERYTHING, including his beloved kitty and reptiles.
Here is his gofundme. PLEASE consider donating to him if you can. If you can't donate, you can help by boosting this toot to spread the word!
"The Titanic is the Marilyn Monroe of shipwrecks."
Fizz posted "Titanic: First ever full-sized scans reveal wreck as never seen before," the first full-sized digital scan of the Titanic, with visualizations pieced together from 700,000 images collected by remote controlled submersibles. (Title via pthomas745 in the comments!)
"...low-income communities with tight budgets afford protective measures like upgraded levees or #stormwater systems and can't recover from damage quickly.
When older adults live in these #flood-prone areas, they are at even higher risk. Older adults have a higher likelihood of having health needs or some form of disability that could affect their ability to leave quickly during a #disaster. They are also more likely to be socially isolated,..."
Disaster alert accounts are preparing for a world after Twitter: be it #wildfires, #floods, #tornadoes, #earthquakes, #tsunami or some other #disaster, new API restrictions on automatic updates - and the characteristic Musk-era chaos over what the rules are and when they are applied - means you can no longer rely on Twitter for timely and reliable information.