The NY Times published a lengthy article on the term "eco-anxiety" today. I must say that climate change and biodiversity loss is often on my mind, but it doesn't approach anxiety levels. Perhaps that's the problem -- we need pervasive, widespread, in-your-face reminders of how bad things can get. Maybe only a climate disaster per week can move us (and by that, I mean our governments) to take action.
Of course, when bought politicians won't act, money talks in other ways. Insurance companies have taken note of the huge losses they take when hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, blizzards, and heatwaves impact not just a community, but entire regions. When insurance becomes unaffordable, people will have to abandon their high-risk properties, no matter what state and federal policies are. FEMA can bail people out only so many times.
Switching subjects, going back in the NY Times, there's a great article on pressing plants... by Margaret Roach, of course. Worth a read (no paywall on that link). And I learned a new word: exsiccation.
