The Climate Crisis and Cultural Values ​​– The Fordham Ram

Economics education has always highlighted the importance of consumer trust in the market. When consumer confidence is low and the economy as a whole is in panic, you know we are in a tough situation. Zillow's recent addition of climate risk assessments is intended to boost consumer trust in the site amid the increasing frequency of natural disasters. More importantly, Zillow's move was intended to instill low consumer confidence in how our materialistic culture works. With insurance premiums rising and property values ​​falling, people across the political spectrum must come together to change our focus. Without this change, vital human and American values ​​are at risk.

Zillows New climate risk assessment feature contains information on five major climate-related disasters. These include floods, wildfires, extreme heat, poor air quality and wind damage. Zillow worked with First Street, a nonprofit climate research organization, to develop these new features. First Street is a nonprofit research organization that combines climate tracking software with real estate development. Their last completed round of financing earned them the winning bid 46 million dollars to further develop these technologies. Apparently, investors believe that technologies like these will be crucial to the future housing market.

Across the board, there are a growing number of organizations making climate resilience a priority. People are very afraid of recurring natural disasters. People need research like this to increase their confidence before making big purchases, especially real estate. If these risk factors apply, the concerns could be addressed and the real estate market could be more open. Ideally, this will allow for increased buying and selling of real estate. Additionally, by making this information public, individuals will avoid risky purchases and insurance premiums will decrease.

In my opinion, this is all well and good. We hope that these climate risk assessments are accurate so that consumers can regain their confidence and the home buying and selling market returns to a peaceful state. However, the introduction of these risk factors conveys a much deeper message. Zillow's decision should inspire us to examine our own risky relationships with the earth. News stories about frequent climate disruption should make this clear.

Recent natural disasters such as hurricanes Milton and Helene have destroyed homes, land and lives. Such utter destruction can never be properly repaired. In North Carolina, Chimney Rocks will almost certainly never be Chimney Rock again. These stories can be demoralizing. It's shocking to see lives destroyed in ways that are completely out of anyone's control. However, these stories should encourage us to rethink our own view of the Earth. Land is something that has been given to us and something that can be taken away from us. This recognition of the country's proper place in the world—not as something owed to us but received as a gift—should inspire a cultural shift away from exploitation toward grateful cultivation.

In a Catholic social teaching course I took last spring with Father Thomas Massaro, SJ, we often talked about restructuring our relationship with the earth. Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato SiHe spoke of a throwaway culture. It is a throwaway culture that has led us to the ecological catastrophes of our time. A throwaway culture manifests itself in the insatiable desire for more – especially profit. Our current throwaway culture needs to be transformed into a culture of integrity and gratitude. Changing our daily priorities alone will not solve the climate crisis. However, it can enable each individual to participate in an effort of solidarity with the Earth.

The fact that Zillow includes a climate risk score shows how serious the problem is. Yes, economically speaking, this addition increases consumer confidence in their product and allows them to maximize profits. However, I honestly believe that many properties will have climate risk issues. I know that half of the houses in my neighborhood in northern Virginia are in a flood zone. Zillow may be risking its own risk by adding these features. We should listen.

Our culture and its impact on the climate should be a topic that interests everyone. The right to private property is protected in our Bill of Rights. Every American should be concerned about increasing climate disasters affecting their ability to buy a home. Isn’t the American dream based on the idea of ​​land ownership? I remember the song “Buy dirt” by Jordan Davis and Luke Bryan. The song's final line rings true: “You can't buy happiness, but you can buy dirt.” Davis and Bryan sing that land ownership is a path to devotion in family life, solidarity with a broader community and recognition of the value of the earth. As one becomes less and less able to acquire land to promote these values, this particular path to realization is hindered.

Today's word “economy” comes from the Greek word “oikonomia”, which means housekeeping. While Zillow's new climate risk assessment feature may seem like an economic decision, it's actually a matter of concern to households. If climate disasters are destroying the physical homes of many Americans, how can values ​​that are inherently tied to personal life be promoted?

We can no longer live in the endless cycle of spending and selling. We need a restoration of the value of simplicity. Maybe I view Buy Dirt's vision with rose-colored glasses, but I know that crucial values ​​are missing from society if we don't recognize land as a gift. Zillow's launch of climate risk scores should serve as a warning to our culture. Something has to change to prevent our values ​​from disappearing before we can even recognize that they are gone. We have to create more trust, not only in our markets, but above all among our fellow human beings.

Abigail Adams, FCRH '26, is a philosophy major from Alexandria, Virginia.