Climate-Preparedness

If our climate is rapidly changing, as many believe it is, then we are going to see some serious disruptions in our food supply. There will be flooding and drought, frost and heat waves, all making it harder to grow food, and harder to find good places to live.

Anyone taking these predictions seriously, should take preparatory steps. However, despite all the talk about how serious this is going to be, very little is said on the topic of climate-preparedness. What exactly is the correct strategy when faced with a possible disruptions in the food supply?

Some people suggest that we should grow our own food. But that will only work if we happen to live in an area where the climate allows for this. There's no point in starting a new farm if the climate changes in such a way that nothing can grow where the farm is located.

Others suggest we should stock up on food. But what if the place we are living becomes too dry or constantly flooded? How are we going to carry all that food with us as we flee our homes? Stocking up on food is of little value if we are located in a place that suddenly turns uninhabitable.

Our first concern should therefore be to identify local threats. We should avoid living on flood plains or places where drought have occurred in the past. Places that can get too hot or too cold should also be avoided. If we live in such places, don't invest too much in housing. If things get so bad that we have to move, we should not have all our savings tied up in real estate.

From history, we know that people in debt have been much harder hit by famine and other natural disasters than people with savings. A first precaution for anyone worried about climate change should therefore be to get out of debt.

History also tells us that people with savings in gold or silver have had the great advantage of mobility. They moved, sometimes over great distances, until they found places to settle. Their savings were then invested in tools and provisions to start over.

Rather than stocking up on food, we should stack gold and silver. It gives us the same kind of protection, with the added advantage of mobility. The advantage of metals over state sanctioned currencies is that currencies can go to zero, especially if the country in question is hit by a disaster. Gold and silver, on the other hand, will always have value.

From this we see that climate-preparedness is indistinguishable from sensible saving and hedging. It is about making good investment decisions and staying out of debt. We need to keep an eye on what's going on and make sure we're invested in the right things.

American Silver Eagle - Public Domain, Link