Optimists of the world unite. While this piece does not discuss the cost of constructing and operating floating schools, it demonstrates the power of the Climatopolis Two Step; Anticipate a challenge and invest accordingly.
"Bangladesh — a country of waterways — is one of the most threatened by rising sea levels. About a third of the country is covered by water during monsoon time, but with climate change, water can soak two-thirds of the country.
An amazing nonprofit, Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha, has developed solutions that can be used in many parts of the world.
When there's too much rain, students take classes aboard solar-powered boats, often for four months a year. There are now 22 floating schools, five floating health clinics and 10 libraries. A new two-tiered school has classrooms on the lower level and a playground on top.
And in the watery world that's taking over, they are even helping people create floating farms. The nonprofit provides training, seeds, feed and the entire structure for farms that include ducks, fish and even a vegetable garden."
Note the emphasis on human ingenuity. Who is Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha? Here is its webpage. Who is providing their $? Is the Gates Foundation Investing? This is one way through which capitalism accelerates the adaptation process.
Here is a direct quote from this organization;
"One third of Bangladesh floods annually during the monsoon season, but extreme floods cover up to two thirds. Every year, during the rainy season, monsoon winds brings plenty of rainfall that causes its’ hundreds of rivers to swell and overflow onto the land. Due to floods, thousands of schools are forced to close and many children miss school days.
Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha came up with a creative solution ‘floating school’ to address this issue and brought the school to the students during the flooding. Also the organization runs a fleet of boats acting as libraries, adult education centers and solar workshops. Boats themselves are outfitted with solar panels that power computers, lights and other equipment. But the boats bring more than services to these cut-off areas - they bring electricity. Shidhulai also runs floating clinics that have doctors and paramedics."
Millions of "Mark Zuckerbergs" will focus on innovation geared towards climate adaptation. Ideas are public goods and the winning ideas will diffuse. Julian Simon would understand and appreciate this logic. Do you?