China’s summer of climate destruction
BBC NewsAug 27, 2023
China Floods: 4 Killed, More Than 110K Evacuated
The Facts
In Guangdong, one of China's most densely populated regions, authorities have evacuated over 110K people after record-breaking downpours caused devastating flooding over the weekend.
Four people have died so far, including three people in Zhaoqing and one in Shaoguan. At least 10 people have gone missing, with rivers in the region reaching record highs after an average cumulative rainfall of 121.8 mm.
The Spin
Narrative A
Scientists have long documented that extreme weather is interrelated and exacerbated by climate change. Droughts and severe rainfall frequently hit China, causing floods. The fact that China is the world's greatest emitter of greenhouse gases contributes to the problem, since every ton of carbon dioxide that stays in the ground might reduce future catastrophes in the PRC. However, this is a global problem that no one country can solve on its own.
Narrative B
When it comes to natural disasters, China is indeed among the nations that have taken the worst hits. Accordingly, China has gained vast expertise in disaster relief, which has improved its knowledge of climate change adaptation. China must now establish a long-term climate adaptation strategy — including rebuilding cities to deal with the issues of a changing climate. The PRC has an opportunity to build on its vast experience to become deeply resilient to climate challenges.
Nerd narrative
There's a 65% chance China will reduce its carbon emissions per GDP by 60% by 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.