Julian Morris on the Policy Aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan

Forecasts of cyclonic doom should be consumed with a heaped tablespoon of sea salt. And policies should be framed accordingly.

Nove foto da Firenze / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA

The terrible toll of Typhoon Haiyan—estimated to have killed more than 2,000 people—reminds us of the often awesome power of the weather. Some say the death and destruction in Asia are symptoms of climate change and that we can expect worse to come—unless we cut back on emissions of greenhouse gases. Coincidentally, negotiators from around the world are meeting in Warsaw, Poland this week and next to attempt to hammer out a deal that would do just that. But, points out Julian Morris, Reason Foundation's vice president of research, cuts in emissions of greenhouse gases may not be the best way to address the threat of hurricanes and typhoons, even if climate change is making them worse.