The White House admitted yesterday that warmer weather is better for the US GDP. (A very slight exaggeration on my part)
“3. The first quarter of 2014 was marked by unusually severe winter weather, including record cold temperatures and snowstorms, which explains part of the difference in GDP growth relative to previous quarters. The left chart shows the quarterly deviation in heating degree days from its average for the same quarter over the previous five years. By this measure, the first quarter of 2014 was the third most unusually cold quarter over the last sixty years, behind only the first quarter of 1978 and the fourth quarter of 1976. “
There is some question whether there numbers are correct as this blog post discusses.
The NOAA suggests Q1 had the 9th lowest heating degree days (not the asserted 3rd)
But I think we can all agree that if more “Heating Degree Days” is bad for the GDP as the White House assets, then fewer “Heating Degree Days” would be better for the economy.
And therefore “Global Warming” is better for the US GDP.
We certainly don’t want to damage the economy by returning to the late 1970’s when “Heating Degree Days” went through the roof! That would be a disaster for the US economy.
Hurrah!
sunshine hours 