Hurricane Beryl, which made landfall at the beginning of July this year broke records as the earliest Category 5 Atlantic hurricane ever which was attributed to warmer early-season ocean temperatures. This storm was another reminder of climate change and served to warn hurricane-prone communities that these storm seasons are becoming longer and more dangerous. These extreme weather events pose significant threats to society’s health, homes, and livelihoods in unforeseen ways.
While we can clearly see the catastrophic destruction caused by hurricanes like Katrina which devastated 800,000 US homes and left over a million people homeless for at least a month, hurricanes leave other damages that are not always addressed but are sometimes just as dangerous as the initial disaster. Immediate disaster response usually focuses on restoring power an access to food, housing, and water, as relief organizations come together to aid afflicted communities.
But what about the other damages that are left for hurricane survivors to face after the initial storm response?
For those individuals who can return home, the next step is to survey damages. A Sense of relief may come when a home appears to have survived the storm with little visible water damage. But, it is important not to write off water damage or to save it for a later home improvement project. Water damage and moisture left unchecked leave the opportunity for mold spores to grow and wreak havoc on your health.
Mold, which starts out as Mildew, will begin to grow only 24 to 48 hours after water exposure. Because it grows so quickly, and because it is often not immediately acted on by hurricane and flooding victims, it is safe to ‘assume that mold is already present in homes’ that have endured hurricanes and flooding events, according to the CDC. While this initial period is critical for homeowners, it is often very difficult to actually prevent. And, because mold is sneaky and often undetectable to our senses, it may grow unnoticed in our homes, in our cars, at our work, or amongst our belongings, for years, which can cause various health issues.
So what health issues may occur from mold?
Mold exposure is detrimental to our health and may cause and exacerbate health conditions. Acute exposure may lead people to have wheezing, coughing, itchy eyes, and other common cold symptoms. Prolonged exposure, however, may cause severe allergic responses, skin infections, asthma, and chronic respiratory illnesses. This makes it important to be aware of small changes to our health, particularly in the period coming out of hurricanes and flood events. Still, some types of mold and infections have long incubation periods, making it difficult for individuals and clinicians to connect its symptoms to an actual mold exposure event which slowly manifests after water damage has occurred.
Increases in severe hurricanes and flooding events and subsequent mold exposures have recently brought a lesser-known health condition, Invasive mold Infections (IMI)s, into the spotlight as well. Infection rates of IMI’s have markedly increased particularly in areas hit by extreme weather. After Hurricane Harvey hit Texas in 2023, IMI rates increased by 17.5% during the period after the hurricane. Infectious disease epidemiologists from the CDC who surveyed this disease emergence, attributed this rise in cases to mold exposure in homes impacted by the hurricane. While most of those who contracted an IMI were immunocompromised and at a greater risk of illness, researchers have warned that these pathogens are becoming more ‘virulent and potent’ as warming climates offer them favorable conditions for adaptation. IMI’s may soon pose a risk to healthier populations of people as well, and, as climate change continues to spread to areas that historically may face fewer threats of extreme weather events, the risk of mold exposure and contracting these IMI’s may also rise.
Experiences from contemporary pandemics like COVID-19 and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), have shown us that overlooking potential threats to emerging diseases leaves societies unprepared to effectively manage or respond to their future consequences. Climate change is a threat that will continue to impact societies in unprecedented ways, and it is unrealistic to assume immunity from its effects simply for living far away from those areas experiencing more extreme weather.
So, what is currently being done to prevent mold exposure after hurricanes?
The simple answer is: not enough. Without a ‘systematic surveillance’ system for mold exposure in the US, it is difficult to track down sources of mold exposure and those individuals who may be unknowingly exposed. Because rates of mold exposure have been shown to be connected to extreme weather events it could make sense for Disaster relief organizations to develop mold assessment and surveillance systems. For those, disaster-struck communities this would be particularly beneficial, especially since emergency assistance would extend past immediate and urgent needs as well as recognize the delayed, or secondary damages, like mold, which homes and victims often face.
Unfortunately, it is unlikely that aid or surveillance by these organizations will improve, or be offered even amidst the growing threat of climate change and subsequent mold exposure. FEMA, the main emergency response agency in the US, recently announced that there is not enough funds to cover this season’s projected relief needs because of record-breaking natural disasters. While this had only been speculatory, those communities hit by Hurricane Beryl in July saw this concern become a reality; FEMA began ‘denying requests for aid’ because of their limited budget and projected finances for this season. Although these disaster relief organizations have an ever-increasing need in our societies, the increasing cost of climate disasters is making it harder for them to provide aid and manage effective response.
It is essential for individuals to know how to prevent mold growth and to manage mold exposure when it happens in your home. To prepare for a hurricane or for a flooding event, protect areas of the home that may be vulnerable to water damage, especially where there are unsealed barriers. If your house is prone to flooding, protect or cover those belongings that might be in contact with water or mold growth.
After the hurricane, it’s important to remember that mold can grow within 24-48 hours in places where there was water exposure. For those individuals returning to their homes after the storm has passed, it is vitally important to check for signs of water damage and to take photos of any potentially affected areas of damage! This is often necessary for individuals hoping to file insurance claims.
When inspecting your home, look for warps in the walls, check your roof for leaks or damage, inspect those areas in your home with little light exposure, and take notice of discolorations or damages to your carpets, floors, and walls.
If you end up finding mold and plan to remove it yourself, make sure to use personal protective equipment to prevent skin contact, inhalation, or ingestion of mold. Additionally, use dehumidifiers and air conditioning units to dry up moisture in the air immediately after a hurricane, and open windows when cleaning out mold.
If you are unsure whether there is mold in your home, or if you notice small changes in your home or to your health in the time after a flooding event, it is best to contact professional mold remediation services to get it checked out and cleaned properly.
As extreme weather events are becoming more frequent across the US, we can learn how to protect ourselves and our homes from mold. By educating friends and family about the risks and prevention measures for mold exposure communities can be more resilient against the long-term impacts of these weather events, which can be just as devastating as the initial storm itself.
Mold exposure and IMI’s are yet another facet of climate change. As the climate crisis grows increasingly complex, it is even more necessary that we shift our focus beyond immediate disasters and prioritize long-term strategies that safeguard the health of communities today and in the future.
Alyssa is a graduate Public Health Student at Lund University in Sweden. Originally from New England, USA, she grew up in the mountains and is passionate about making sustainable systems in public health.
The post Amidst a record-breaking hurricane season, mold may be in your homes. What does that mean for you? appeared first on Climate Generation.
Amidst a record-breaking hurricane season, mold may be in your homes. What does that mean for you?
After witnessing the effects of sea-level rise in the low-lying island nation of Tuvalu, Pacific leaders on Tuesday used the pre-COP31 summit in Fiji to voice their frustration at the difficulties they have experienced in tapping the global climate finance system.
A small group of government leaders, climate negotiators and heads of development banks and climate funds took a trip to Tuvalu’s Funafuti atoll on Tuesday morning, travelling by road over land just 10-20 metres wide to visit a project that is building barriers to keep the sea from the land.
They then flew to Fiji for the pre-COP summit, where several Pacific leaders said they had been let down by the insufficient quantity, bad terms and slow speed of international finance to help them adapt to a warming climate that is bringing higher oceans, drought and more powerful storms to their shores.
“Right now, our islands are like a canoe that has been rammed by a massive foreign ship. Our canoe is taking on water, we are sinking, and what is the world’s response?” asked Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr.
“They hand us a tiny patch to cover a gaping hole,” he continued, “but the bureaucratic process just to receive that patch is so slow that the water fills the hole while we wait. Then to rebuild the vessel so that we can survive the next storm, we are offered loans, debt that adds weight to a sinking boat packaged in red tape so thick we can barely access it. And while we wait, the water continues to fill.”
Pacific leaders and Australia called again on governments to invest in the new Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF), which has been designed by the Pacific Islands Forum and is seeking $500 million in investments by COP31 in November.
It has around $180 million so far, but did not receive additional pledges during the UN General Assembly in New York. The PRF aims to invest to generate annual returns which it can give to projects like water tanks for drought-hit communities.
Witnessing sea level rise
The annual pre-COP gathering is usually a low-profile technical meeting of climate negotiators. But this year, Australia – which is the president of negotiations at COP31 – partnered with the Pacific to introduce a “leaders segment” in an attempt to shine a spotlight on climate issues affecting the region.
Fourteen government leaders – from Australia, Timor-Leste, Mauritius and the Pacific – made the trip. They were joined by the European Union’s climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra, the heads of the Green Climate Fund and the Asian Development Bank and former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard.
On their return to Fiji, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale told the pre-COP leaders roundtable that the sea level rise they had witnessed was personal for him.
“Tuvalu was not just a site visit for me. I saw the story of my own saltwater people,” he said, adding that he, his daughter and his grandfather had lost their houses to sea level rise and that three-quarters of his electorate live on land that will be underwater in the next 30 years.
From the other side of the world, Antigua and Barbuda’s environment minister Michael Joseph said Tuvalu’s problems felt similar to those of his own Caribbean islands. “I saw vulnerable communities… just metres from the sea and people determined to remain on their land, preserve their culture and way of life,” he said.
A group of Fijian schoolchildren told the leaders it was not just sea level rise the Pacific struggles with but also heatwaves, droughts and storms, which worry their families and prevent them from learning.
Climate finance red-tape
Several Pacific leaders criticised the world’s leaders for not doing enough to combat climate change. Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown expressed disappointment that only two non-Pacific leaders had come to the pre-COP, a fact Australian media widely picked up on to label the event a flop and question its A$20 million (US$14m) price tag.
“We’ve heard a lot of numbers these last two days,” Brown said. “Let me share one of my own. More than 50 invitations extended to world leaders… to see for themselves what high emissions are doing to our nations and our ocean – an ocean that covers nearly one-third of the Earth’s surface.”
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He called for more climate finance for the Pacific, asking “if the world is prepared to assess our suitability for climate finance, why is it not equally prepared to scrutinise whether those responsible for delivering it are meeting their obligations?”
Like Palau’s president Whipps, Naoero’s President David Adeang criticised the red tape that is hindering access to climate finance as well as a lack of money, complaining especially about “complicated procedures, heavy reporting, delays in approval and disbursement”.
Adeang added that “the way we assess vulnerability matters”, adding that it should be measured by more than income. Naoero, for example, is classified by the World Bank as high-income, restricting which climate finance it is eligible for.
Action plan to improve access
On Thursday, the Australian government will present a statement and action plan on improving access to climate finance for small island developing states and least developed countries, which it is asking other countries and organisations to endorse.
The statement addresses some of these Pacific complaints as well as acknowledging that progress has already been made on simplifying access by multilateral development banks and climate funds.
In Fiji, Asian Development Bank head Masato Kanda said his institution is “tailoring our finance and operations to island realities” because “your children and their children should be able to grow old in the countries their ancestors have called home for millennia”.
The executive director of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Mafalda Duarte, said that the GCF-backed coastal adaptation project leaders visited in Tuvalu shows that “climate finance works” although – as the project took eight years to implement – “it takes time, and therefore we have no time to waste”.
Australia calls for optimism
While Pacific leaders expressed concern that the world is set to blast past its agreed 1.5C warming limit, endangering their nations, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for “optimism”. “If people think there is no hope, then they will not strive to get the change that we need,” he said.
He said that when he attended his first COP in 2005, Australia’s renewable energy target was 2%. Its target is now 82% renewable electricity by 2030.
While Albanese promoted Australia’s success at electrifying homes and businesses and rolling out renewables, he has been criticised by climate campaigners for extending the production of fossil fuels, including coal – largely for export.
France’s Minister for Ecological Transition Monique Barbut defended the European Union’s climate action at the pre-COP meeting. She said the continent was heating up and reducing emissions faster and providing more climate finance than anywhere else in the world.
“It is time for all major emitters to step up and do their fair share” on climate finance, she said. Most developing countries with large emissions have fiercely resisted joining the club of climate finance donors, arguing they have played a disproportionately small historic role in causing climate change.
Barbut, as well as Palau’s president Whipps, called for the next flagship scientific assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to be finished by COP33 in 2028, in time to inform the next global stocktake of national climate action.
This timeline has been opposed by countries like India, Saudi Arabia and China, who argue it would put an unfair burden on developing countries. Barbut said countries should “support the work of the IPCC rather than sabotage its calendar”.
Barbut said that governments should agree at COP31 to aim to raise the share of “clean electricity” in final energy consumption to 35% by 2035. The Turkish and Australian governments have pushed for this goal although without specifying that the electricity should be “clean”. Barbut added that COP31 should also agree to cut emissions of methane, a particularly potent greenhouse gas.
The post Pacific leaders rail at climate finance failures after pre-COP trip to Tuvalu appeared first on Climate Home News.
Pacific leaders rail at climate finance failures after pre-COP trip to Tuvalu
Jacynta Fa’amau is a Pacific campaigner at global grassroots climate movement 350.org and a secretariat member of Pacific Climate Warriors.
The first thing that struck me was the sheer size of Queensland’s Saraji coal mine. Standing at the edge of the enormous pit, my brain scrambled for words as I scanned the earth’s open wound – a whole island could probably fit inside it.
Looking down, I noticed footprints of an emu and a koala, pressed and dried in what was once a puddle – signs of how drought had driven animals in desperate search of water, so dangerously close to the coal trucks and heavy machinery ahead.
Earlier this year, I joined a small group of Pacific Islanders on a journey through the Bowen Basin to learn from First Nations communities battling Australia’s mammoth coal industry. Of the more than 40 coal mines operating in the area, BHP & Mitsubishi Alliance’s Saraji mine is one of the largest. So it came as a painful shock to us when in August, the Australian government approved the mine’s extension just months after our visit.
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Witnessing coal extraction is devastating. It is bad enough to see what pillaging tonnes of coal can do to a mine’s immediate surroundings: dry creek beds, dwindling wildlife, denuded land. But to know that this coal will be shipped across the ocean, bring air pollution, and eventually lead to the destruction of Pacific islands thousands of miles away is another kind of heartbreak.
Rising ocean waters
I’m an Australian-born Samoan. In 2002, I visited my family home for the first time. My father took me to the rural community where generations of my family were raised. He did not have the words to describe how much has changed since rising ocean waters had taken away almost a third of the beach.
I learned of how we had to relocate my great‑great‑grandparents’ grave to higher ground twice in the last 15 years. Of how my cousins have to paddle out further to sea to catch fish, since warmer waters have destroyed much of the reef. Of how the ocean crashes so close to my uncle’s home that he had to build a new house further away.
