Trade benefits from global warming?

[kiaa]

This map shows the northern and southern sea routes between Europe and East Asia in comparison.



Best part: the Middle Eastern cesspit will no longer be relevant. Also it avoids Somalia so there’s that...

Right now, many ships actually go round Africa rather than having to deal with the Suez authorities. The distance isn't that important. Timing is bigger. You want to sell the cargo at the highest possible price and refuel when it is as cheap as possible. Also there are of course schedules in the ports to consider. Lastly, the difference in weather and climate and how that affects the ship, its cargo, and the crew, will also be a factor to consider. But sure, for some this northern passage will suit.

Of course, the climate processes resulting in this new situation are not something to cheer about. When sea levels rise drastically, some of the most populated areas in the world will be directly affected. As well as the interior, which is already being affected by extreme weather every year.

Comments

[abomvubuso]

Sure, there might be some trade benefits. As for the economic cost of extreme weather, well... If those outweigh the trade benefits (and they do, by orders of magnitude), then there really is nothing to cheer about.

[johnny9fingers]

The economic costs of really extreme weather are not forecastable. And these folk who don't understand that we have to do things differently in order to just hit extreme change rather than really extreme change don't appear to get this at all.

I think a lot of folk are just waiting for whatever eschatological myth to rescue them from their own culpable stupidity. Whatever rapture or last trump it is they imagine will remake their existences is looking to be self-caused, and the rest of us on the planet will be collateral damage.

Oh bliss.