Climate Change and Inflation
The headlines recently have been focused on global price inflation and the rising costs of living. Numerous causes of this inflation are usually blamed, such as Covid-related disruptions of manufacturing and transport of goods, and the current war in Ukraine which create shortages. Seldom, however, do we see or hear about the links between climate change and increasing inflation. Here are two well documented examples:
-- Much of the lumber used in home construction is northern spruce or fir from areas like British Columbia. Prices of that lumber have tripled recently due to greatly decreased supply, caused by climate-related stresses on northern forests (e.g. bark beetle infestations, drought, fires and floods).
-- Prior to the war in Ukraine, wheat prices were at an all-time high due to the hottest summers on record, droughts in the plains states, and the swarms of grasshoppers that destroyed many wheat crops.
Covid and wars are very serious human tragedies, but they are likely short-term, while climate-change will intensify for many decades unless carbon emissions are soon controlled.
Source: The Atlantic: 2/2/22

Steve Spigarelli
EcoFaith Network NE MN Team
First Lutheran Church, Aitkin, MN
Northeastern Minnesota Synod