Why Climate Alarmism Hurts Us All
ForbesOCT 2019
Study: Flood Risk Reduces AU$42 Billion From Australian Property Values
Above: A partially-collapsed house in the flood-impacted Cairns suburb of Holloways Beach in Queensland, Australia on Dec. 18, 2023. Image copyright: Joshua Prieto/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images
The Spin
Climate-concerned narrative
Climate-driven floods are devastating Australian homeowners with a brutal $42 billion penalty that government inaction has allowed to fester. Labor's cozy relationship with coal and gas corporations means families bear the crushing costs while polluters rake in profits. Urgent action to slash emissions by 85% and ban new fossil fuel projects could prevent this climate disaster from destroying more Australian housing stock.
Climate-skeptic narrative
Flood risk creates actual investment opportunities through strategic resilience infrastructure that delivers returns worth twice the initial cost. Smart buyers can capitalize on discounted flood-zone properties while flood mitigation projects like levees restore billions in unrealized value. Informed markets with proper risk disclosure enable better decision-making and targeted investments. Climate alarmism often doesn't grasp the nuances of the real estate market.