Disastrous flooding in China and Pakistan, drought in Brazil, drought and record heat in Russia, heavy floods in the American Mid-West while the East Coast bakes in record heat and is battered by violent storms, and the Arctic ice continues to melt. Around the world, we are witnessing more volatile, violent and extreme weather, which has inflicted a high cost, both in personal suffering and economic. The death toll from floods, fire and heat is being counted by the thousands, while hundreds of thousands have lost their homes, and their livelihoods. The loss of rice production in the far east is staggering, the fires in Russia have reduced agricultural output by at least 25%, and springs storms reduced this year’s Canadian grain production by an estimated 35%. This weather related loss of agricultural production result in additional personal and economic burdens.
