Climate Denying Republicans Delay their Convention Due to Extreme Weather

The GOP may be dismissive of global warming but they cannot avoid the reality of extreme weather. Republicans were forced to delay their National Convention due to a hurricane that is expected to make landfall in Florida on August 27th, 2012. What makes this ironic is the fact that there is a clear link between climate change and extreme weather borne out in the research. This idea was evinced in the 2011 report, known as the “Current Extreme Weather and Climate Change” as well as many others studies (see “Related Posts” below).

The tropical storm known as Isaac is bearing down on Florida and surrounding states. As it prepares to make landfall it is still a tropical storm but Isaac is fast developing into a hurricane. There are some eerie similarities between the track of Isaac and hurricane Katrina 7 years ago. Isaac is on track to land with hurricane force at roughly the same time and in the same place as Hurricane Katrina. Evacuations are being made along a wide area of the region as many residents recalled the devasation of Hurricane Katrina seven years ago.

Hurricane Katrina first made landfall on August 25, 2005, and ended up being the second strongest hurricane ever recorded in the U.S. It is the costliest natural disaster. At least 1,836 people died in the actual hurricane and in the subsequent floods. total property damage was estimated at $81 billion (2005 USD). It was just a bit more than 20 years ago that Hurricane Andrew hit Florida (August 24, 1992). Andrew cost almost 30 billion and killed 15 people. Hurricane Irene struck one year ago andkilled at least 67 people. Irene ranks as the costliest Category 1 storm on record since at least 1980. It caused an estimated $15.8 billion in total damage. A total of 3.3 million households lost power

It is more than a bit ironic that the Florida convention has been delayed by extreme weather. Republican officials convened the Convention on Monday and then immediately declared a recess until Tuesday afternoon. They say safety concerns about the storm prompted their decision.

At the convention, the Republicans will formally nominate Mitt Romney and his vice presidential running mate Paul Ryan as their candidates.. This climate denying duo may not accept the facts about climate change, but there is no escaping the effects of extreme weather.

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.
Richard Matthews is a consultant, eco- entrepreneur, green investor and author of numerous articles on sustainable positioning, eco-economics and enviro-politics. He is the owner of The Green Market Oracle a leading sustainable business blog and one of the Web’s most comprehensive resources on the business of the environment. Find The Green Market Oracle on Facebook and follow The Green Market Oracle’s twitter feed.