Climate disasters in Nepal and Indiana highlight fossil-fuel profit pressures
A deadly glacier collapse in Nepal and a massive derecho in Gary, Indiana, are linked by scientists to rising global temperatures and the continued profitability of big oil.
Late-August tragedies unfolded on opposite sides of the globe: a 2,000-foot ice slab fell from a Nepali mountain, killing more than 1,000 people, and a powerful derecho swept across Gary, Indiana, producing winds up to 110 mph and cutting electricity to tens of thousands for over two weeks. Scientists cited in the piece say both disasters are tied to the rise in global temperatures. The author notes that fossil-fuel profits now exceed $3,000 per second, while climate-related damages could cost $38 trillion each year.
Despite warnings that a 2 °C rise would trigger irreversible changes, oil interests remain focused on extracting returns from existing assets. The article highlights the contrast between communities like Gary and Nepal, which bear the brunt of climate impacts, and the industry and political donors that profit from continued fossil-fuel use.
Why it matters
It shows how climate-driven disasters affect vulnerable communities while fossil-fuel profits keep rising.
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