As predictable as the sunrise, the climate alarmists are saying that the recent spate of destructive tornadoes is proof that we have ruined the climate–and had better repent of our bad ways immediately. (The way to do that, of course, is through greatly increased federal power.) Don Boudreaux replies to one of the loudest fear-mongers, Bill McKibben.


Editor, Washington Post
1150 15th St., NW
Washington, DC  20071

Dear Editor:

Bill McKibben blames deadly recent weather events on climate change ("A link 
between climate change and Joplin tornadoes? Never!" May 24).  And he snarkily 
dismisses as naive the argument that humankind can adapt well to such change.

Let's look at data from the National Weather Service on annual fatalities in the 
U.S. caused by tornados, floods, and hurricanes from 1940 through 2009.  
Naturally, these data show that the number of such fatalities varies from year 
to year.  For example, in 1972 the number of persons killed by these weather 
events was 703 while in 1988 the number was 72.  On average, however, the trend 
is clear and encouraging: the number of such fatalities, especially since 1980, 
is declining.

The average annual number of such fatalities over this entire 70-year span is 
248.  In each of the four decades prior to 1980, the average annual number of 
fatalities was higher than 248, and the average annual number of such fatalities 
over the full 40 years 1940-1979 was 290.  But in each of the three decades 
starting in 1980, the average annual number of fatalities was LOWER than 248, 
and the average annual number of such fatalities over the full 30 years 
1980-2009 was 194.  (This number falls to 160 if we exclude the deaths 
attributed to hurricane Katrina, the great majority of which were caused by a 
levee that breached a day after the storm passed.)

This decline in the absolute number of deaths caused by tornados, floods, and 
hurricanes is even more impressive considering that U.S. population over these 
70 years more than doubled from 132 million in 1940 to 308 million today.

Seems that Mr. McKibben's apocalyptic prognostications about humanity's future 
are as fact-based as are those of the Rev. Harold Camping.

Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Professor of Economics
George Mason University