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I was reading about the Climate Emergency, and was thinking I have no real idea what an emergency is

I was reading about the Climate Emergency, and was thinking I have no real idea what an emergency is. Sure, Iโ€™ve heard the word emergency used in various contexts, but Iโ€™ve never heard it actually defined.

An emergency is a situation that poses an immediate risk to health, life, property, or environment. Most emergencies require urgent intervention to prevent a worsening of the situation, although in some situations, mitigation may not be possible and agencies may only be able to offer palliative care for the aftermath.

While some emergencies are self-evident (such as a natural disaster that threatens many lives), many smaller incidents require that an observer (or affected party) decide whether it qualifies as an emergency. The precise definition of an emergency, the agencies involved and the procedures used, vary by jurisdiction, and this is usually set by the government, whose agencies (emergency services) are responsible for emergency planning and management.

In other words, an emergency is a politically-defined situation. Emergencies arenโ€™t self-evident, they are defined substantially in the context of the problem, seen through a lens of personal and community values.

A related term would be crisis, which by definition are negative situations that require action to avoid things getting worse. I feel like I have a better idea of what a crisis is, but a definition is worthwhile to review.

A crisis (plural: โ€œcrisesโ€; adjectival form: โ€œcriticalโ€) is any event or period that will lead, or may lead, to an unstable and dangerous situation affecting an individual, group, or all of society. Crises are negative changes in the human or environmental affairs, especially when they occur abruptly, with little or no warning. More loosely, a crisis is a testing time or an emergency.

Hochul Signs Law That Penalizes Companies for Greenhouse Gas Emissions โ€“ The New York Times

Hochul Signs Law That Penalizes Companies for Greenhouse Gas Emissions โ€“ The New York Times

Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York on Thursday signed a law that requires companies that are big fossil fuel polluters to help pay to repair damage caused by extreme weather, which is becoming more common because of greenhouse gas emissions.

The legislation, called the Climate Change Superfund Act, mandates that the companies responsible for the bulk of carbon emissions buildup between 2000 and 2024 pay about $3 billion each year for 25 years.

NPR

A strong dollar is good news for most of us โ€” but not everybody wins : NPR

The American dollar has been soaring this year relative to most currencies in the world. That's providing a lot of benefits to Americans โ€” but it's also creating a lot of pain. The U.S. dollar conquered the world. Is it at risk of losing its top spot? Economy The U.S. dollar conquered the world. Is it at risk of losing its top spot?

The strong dollar brings a number of advantages. It reinforces Americaโ€™s economic dominance and it helps reduce inflation by making imports cheaper.

But a rising dollar doesnโ€™t lift all boats. Some exporters have been hit as the stronger domestic currency makes them less competitive in overseas markets, while also creating economic headaches around the world.