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.
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