The World’s Biggest Crisis Isn’t Climate. It’s Trust | Opinion
Summary
Kerr County, Texas, asked twice for federal money to build a flood-warning system but was denied both times before a deadly flood occurred in 2025, killing at least 27 people. The article explains that a lack of trust, both in institutions and between people, is a major problem in funding climate actions and disaster prevention worldwide.Key Facts
- Kerr County applied for $1 million federal funds in 2017 and 2018 for a flood-warning system but was rejected both times.
- A flood in 2025 on the Guadalupe River caused at least 27 deaths at a girls' camp.
- Trust in institutions and strangers has fallen globally and in the U.S., affecting charitable giving and cooperation.
- In 2000, about two-thirds of U.S. households gave to charity; by 2018, this dropped to just under half.
- A 2026 global survey found that 7 in 10 people hesitate to trust others with different values or backgrounds.
- Nonprofits are not seen as the most ethical or efficient institutions, businesses score better in trust.
- Climate agreements depend on people willing to fund problems they may never see but trust in this is declining.
- The author suggests building financial systems where all parties depend on each other’s success to reduce reliance on trust.
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