Climate Change’s Effects Are Worsening Across U.S., but Solutions Are in Reach
New York TimesNov 23, 2023
The Facts
A Turkish cargo ship with 12 crew on board reportedly sank off Turkey's Black Sea coast during a storm on Sunday.
Rescue teams are continuing to search for 11 missing crew members after severe storms and flooding reportedly killed nine people across Turkey, including one of the ship's sailors.
The Spin
Narrative A
Due to climate change, Turkey is experiencing more frequent and severe weather conditions, underscoring the need to focus on ecologically sound practices to shield its population and economy from environmental disasters. As the current infrastructure in Turkey can't handle the consequences of climate change, weather-related phenomena, such as storms and floods, could worsen unless the adaptation process is started immediately.
Narrative B
While it is tempting to attribute Turkey's heavy weather conditions to climate change, accurately assessing its role in such events is tricky, as there isn't yet enough data to observe shifts over time. Moreover, several other factors greatly influence the frequency and intensity of storms and floods. In the absence of conclusive scientific evidence, it's unfair to blame Turkey for not doing enough to mitigate the challenges resulting from global warming.
