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Everyone’s ignoring these investors’ warnings on climate risk. You shouldn’t

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By illuminem briefings

· 2 min read


illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Washington Post or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Climate-focused investors like Owen Woolcock of Climate Core Capital and David Burt of DeltaTerra Capital are pushing back against conventional real estate trends by investing in climate-resilient cities rather than climate-vulnerable hot spots
They believe that as climate risks increase, property values in places like Florida and Arizona will suffer, while resilient areas will hold or grow in value

🔭 The context: The U.S. real estate market has been slow to price in the risks from climate change, such as sea-level rise and extreme weather
Subsidies and government-backed programs like the National Flood Insurance Program mask some of these risks, allowing development in at-risk areas to continue largely unchecked

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Real estate investments in climate-vulnerable regions exacerbate the risks to people and infrastructure, potentially trapping homeowners in areas that may not be resilient to increasing climate threats
Redirecting investments toward climate-resilient cities could help alleviate pressure on vulnerable regions and promote sustainable urban planning

⏭️ What's next: Woolcock and Burt continue advocating for strategic investments in low-risk areas like Ann Arbor and Chattanooga, where infrastructure and climate resilience measures are in place
As insurance costs and climate risks grow, markets may be forced to adjust property valuations accordingly, which could lead to abrupt shifts in real estate pricing

💬 One quote: “There’s got to be a reckoning,” - Burt. “These prices will have to adjust to accommodate the new physical reality of the property”

📈 One stat: An estimated 20% of U.S. homes could lose value within five years due to escalating climate-driven insurance costs and maintenance burdens

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