29. Hot = Costs

Just read an article this morning in the newspaper about how the hot weather in Melbourne is set to cost the city on average $46.5 million a year to the middle of the century. The study commissioned by Melbourne City Council found projected total costs for 2011-2051 for Melbourne due to hot weather - heatwaves, the urban heat island effect, and single hot days - will be $1.86 billion. The costs will be a result of transport delays, increased energy demand, health impacts and increased mortality, anti-social behaviour, and impacts on plants and animals. And this is just some of the costs linked to rising temperature due to climate change. The submission also refers to social research carried out across 2011 and 2012 that surveyed 400 residents, 250 business and 100 visitors about their preparedness for climate change and extreme weather events. The survey found almost all residents surveyed believed in climate change but most said they were unprepared for very hot days and flooding. This is just part of the growing evidence about the practical costs of a changing climate (and the lack of adaptation) ... and this just for the Melbourne City Council. There are some 30 councils in Melbourne. That's a lot of costs!?