Maeve Higgins: America must stop trying to fight fire with firepower

The US response to the climate emergency is all about security — when it really ought to be framed in terms of climate justice 

Vehicles abandoned to the floods only hinted at the horror of Hurricane Ida in August as at least 11 people drowned in basement apartments in New York. As the poorest among us suffer the most, we have to switch from a climate security perspective to one of climate justice. Picture: Steve Helber/AP

There were, doubtlessly, a lot of sleepless nights in Washington DC in the run-up to last Thursday, which saw the release of plans by more than 20 federal agencies, outlining the steps each will take to keep up with, and adapt to, the climate chaos that is already engulfing the nation.

US president Joe Biden seems to understand the gravity of the crisis we are living through and is upfront about how bad it will get: