http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2008/05/08/89817.htm

Attending to climate change is a multi-billion dollar investment. However, researches are suggesting that money should be spent on a gamut of related issues to profit from climate spending.

An assault on climate change on many fronts makes good economic sense but will be money badly spent if the world focuses exclusively on cutting greenhouse gas emissions, a new study said on Thursday.

A 100-year package costing $800 billion to help people adapt to the impacts of warming -- such as droughts or rising seas -- while also funding research into new technology and curbing emissions could yield benefits of $2.1 trillion, it said.

The same imaginary $800 billion invested solely in curbing or mitigating emissions, mainly from burning fossil fuels, would lose money overall with returns of just $685 billion. Until now, emissions curbs have been the overriding focus.

Shifting research from curbing emissions to new technology will lead to enhanced resources to combat hunger, health effects and flooding caused by climate change.

Reuters; May 8, 2008

Submitted by M. Lamarre