Hurricane Helene in the US: A Disaster Waiting To Happen

Published in Frankfurter Rundschau
(Germany) on 1 October 2024
by Joachim Wille (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Kirsty Low. Edited by Helaine Schweitzer.
With Hurricane Helene leaving a trail of devastation in the U.S., climate protection is emerging as a key issue in the election campaign and could decide the next presidency. A commentary.

Hurricane Helene has shocked the U.S. — and the rest of the world. It has been one of the most devastating hurricanes ever to hit the storm-prone region in the southeast of the country. The damage is estimated at up to $100 billion, and if authorities confirm a feared death toll of several hundred, the storm would rank high among the most catastrophic events ever experienced in the region.

What is happening right now is no surprise to anyone familiar with the dynamics of climate change. The world's oceans are unusually warm, and this acts as a turbo boost for hurricanes and other weather phenomena. In the case of the mega-floods that have recently hit Central and Eastern Europe, it is scientifically proven that climate change has made them twice as likely and unusually severe.

In the U.S., the presidential election campaign has so far barely addressed climate issues. That is now changing. It is possible these issues will help decide the election. And climate change denier Donald Trump holds a bad hand compared to his rival, Kamala Harris.


Hurrikan Helene in den USA: Katastrophe mit Ansage

Nachdem Hurrikan Helene in den USA eine Spur der Verwüstung hinterlassen hat, wird Klimaschutz Thema im Wahlkampf und könnte über die nächste Präsidentschaft entscheiden. Der Kommentar.

Hurrikan Helene schockt die USA – und den Rest der Welt. Er war einer der verheerendsten Wirbelstürme, die die sturmerprobte Region im Südosten des Landes je getroffen haben. Die Schäden werden auf bis zu 100 Milliarden Dollar geschätzt, und sollten mehrere Hundert Menschen umgekommen sein, wie befürchtet wird, wäre er auch weit vorne in dieser Hitliste des Grauens.

Für alle, die sich mit der Dynamik des Klimawandels auskennen, ist das, was da gerade passiert, keine Überraschung. Die Weltmeere sind ungewöhnlich warm, und das wirkt wie ein Turbo für Wirbelstürme und andere Wetterphänomene. Für die Megafluten, die jüngst Mittel- und Osteuropa heimgesucht haben, ist es wissenschaftlich nachgewiesen. Sie wurden durch den Klimawandel doppelt so wahrscheinlich und ungewöhnlich heftig.

In den USA waren die Probleme der Klimaveränderungen bisher kaum Thema im Wahlkampf gewesen. Das ändert sich nun. Möglich, dass es mit wahlentscheidend wird. Und der Klimawandel-Leugner Donald Trump hat dabei gegenüber seiner Konkurrentin Kamala Harris schlechte Karten.
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