Until now much of the discussion around climate change initiatives has focused on how much of a cost burden preventative programmes are to the taxpayer, without much consideration as to what the price tag will be if no action is taken.

Our findings show that if the US continues down the dangerous route of taking a ‘business as usual’ approach to curbing climate change, the bill could be economically crippling for many states who will have to compensate for everything from property damaged by natural disasters, to health issues arising from poor air quality or pollution.