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Bloomberg Businessweek

How the Subtle but Significant Consequences of a Hotter Planet Have Already Begun

Nov 13, 2024
R. Jisung Park, Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania and author of "Slow Burn: The Hidden Costs of a Warming World," dives into the subtle yet significant impacts of climate change. He discusses how wildfires affect public health and economic stability, stressing the importance of reframing this crisis for better policy responses. The conversation also reveals the unexpected ways climate change influences education and workplace safety, highlighting how heat can impair student performance and pose risks for outdoor workers.
15:16

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The unseen health impacts of climate change, such as air pollution from wildfires, highlight the importance of recognizing its broader consequences beyond immediate disasters.
  • Government intervention is essential for establishing market signals to reduce emissions, fostering public engagement through economic understanding of climate issues.

Deep dives

Hidden Costs of Climate Change

The discussion emphasizes that the impacts of climate change often extend beyond the immediate, visible consequences like wildfires and storms. Researchers reveal that while the flames from wildfires are destructive, the hidden costs associated with the resulting air pollution may be even more severe. For instance, estimates suggest that thousands may die annually due to health issues linked to wildfire smoke, overshadowing the fatalities directly caused by the fire itself. This notion challenges conventional thinking about climate-related disasters, urging a broader understanding of the pervasive and insidious effects of a warming world.

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