Behind the scenes of big tech's race for 'climate refuges'

September 22, 2024

Alyse Burnside

Facebook data center in Los Lunas, New Mexico. Image courtesy of Facebook.

In David Pogue’s book, How to prepare for climate change, He suggests that readers consider moving to what he calls “climate safe havens”—fifteen cities that offer protection from the worst of climate disasters. These so-called safe havens stretch across the northeastern United States, from Minnesota to New York, and as far south as Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and the Virginias. Like the “Rust Belt,” the “Bible Belt,” and the “Corn Belt,” these post-industrial cities are being redefined by their access to fresh water and a moderate climate.

The designation of climate refuges offers some hope in the face of the litany of dire studies highlighting the irreversible effects of climate change. Studies like this one The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports that last May was the hottest month on record on Earth, marking the 12th consecutive month of record-breaking heat. The National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) reports that last year saw 28 weather and climate disasters that cost more than $1 billion in damages, but another record broken.

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Alyse Burnside is a writer based in Brooklyn. She is working on a collection of essays about work, attachment, and horses. Her work has appeared in The Paris Review, The Atlantic, The Believer, The Nation, DIAGRAM, and elsewhere.

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