The high cost of doing nothing

Now that opponents of the Congressional climate change legislation have (mostly) stopped using bogus numbers to scare people, and (generally) avoided making public denials of climate change so they don't look completely ridiculous, the rhetoric has turned to a more general hysteria about the economic costs of doing anything to reign in greenhouse gases with a cap and trade system.

For all of their professed concerns about the cost on families, opponents are completely ignoring the very real impacts -- economic and otherwise -- that will come from doing nothing. And you don't have to take my word for it. Here are just a few of the studies and analyses looking at the costs of inaction:

The Center for Naval Analysis:

Climate change poses severe security threats to the U.S. and will add to the mission burden of the military. If not dealt with through a systems-based approach, these factors will challenge the US economically, diplomatically and militarily. The convergence of these factors provides a clear and compelling impetus to change the national and military approach to energy.

The Center for Global Development:

World agriculture faces a serious decline within this century due to global warming unless emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are substantially reduced from their rising path...

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT):

US oil imports will be $20 billion higher each year without action to cap greenhouse gas pollution.

The National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences:

Global warming threatens roads, rail lines, ports, airports and other important infrastructure.?

The University of Maryland:

The range of climatic changes anticipated in the United States – from rising sea levels to stronger and more frequent storms and extreme temperature events – will have real impacts on the natural environment as well as human-made infrastructure and their ability to contribute to economic activity and quality of life...

From this review and quantification, five key lessons emerge:

1. Economic impacts of climate change will occur throughout the country.
2. Economic impacts will be unevenly distributed across regions and within the economy and society.
3. Negative climate impacts will outweigh benefits for most sectors that provide essential goods and services to society.
4. Climate change impacts will place immense strains on public sector budgets.
5. Secondary effects of climate impacts can include higher prices, reduced income and  job losses.

(h/t to the Environmental Defense Action Fund)