A persistent and frustrating misconception in climate debate is the notion that efforts to keep the planet from turning into a scorched wasteland somehow conflict with the cost of everyday necessities. But scorched wastelands are not known for having abundant essentials, and when supplies get tighter, prices usually rise.
Housing is a clear example. In many parts of the country, homeowners already face wildly expensive insurance, and those rising premiums are making this core part of the American dream even less attainable for many people. The main driver behind the more than 46% increase in premiums since 2021, a pace three times inflation, is the growing impact of climate change on natural disasters. As with so many other basic needs, the environment has a direct effect on affordability.
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