Climate Crisis AM Edition 2/16/24 Ford's Major Fumble

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Ford’s management said it is worried that low-cost, low-priced China EV companies will move production to Mexico to backdoor themselves into the US market. Some of the Chinese manufacturers sell cars for under $20,000. They could completely upend Ford’s plans for a successful EV operation in the US. Ford will lose about $3 billion in its EV business in 2024. According to Bloomberg,” Ford Motor Co. sees low-cost Chinese electric vehicles as a “colossal strategic threat” that will ultimately arrive on US shores, adding to the challenges for an automaker already confronting shaky consumer demand for plug-in cars.” Ford has already stumbled badly in the EV sector. Its flagship F-150 Lightning sold under 3,000 units in January. And a UAW contract, which will cost Ford $8.8 billion over its life, will challenge EV profits–if Ford ever has any.

More Ford Problems-– Mustang Sales

EV Collapse—Rivian’s Future

Mental healthcare professionals say that the climate crisis has caused anxiety among a number of their patients. These experts don’t know how to deal with the problem because it is recent, and no scientific research can direct them. Anxiety has particularly shown up in children and young people. These patients check the weather frequently and relentlessly study climate crisis problems.

More Floods In Northeast

The northeast will be hit by more and more powerful floods this winter. According to NBC. “Climate change is forecast to bring more hurricanes to the Northeast as waters warm, some scientists say.” The news should come as no surprise. Most experts believe global warming will cause more violent storms, including in areas along the East Coast, from Florida to Maine. Rising water temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean feed these storms, which scientists described as a problem several years ago. Additionally, global warming is melting ice in the Arctic and Antarctic, increasing sea levels and potential flooding.

Austin, among the fastest-growing cities in America, faces extreme summer heat, storms, and occasional drought. The city government plans to do something about it. The resolution is weak. It says, among other things, that “climate change is not waiting for us to act.” Council Member Ryan Alter said, “Our summers are getting hotter. Winters are becoming more severe, and we need to do more. We are going to weigh the costs and the benefits, understanding that there is a high cost of inaction.” It is unclear how any money available for solutions will be used.