Climate ‘fingerprint’ measures human role in extreme weather

System may enable Pacific Islands countries to claim compensation from major emitters

Academics from Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand have developed a “fingerprint” system that combines climate science and economics to measure the contribution of human activities to extreme weather events.

Dave Frame, director of the university’s climate change research institute, says the system could allow Pacific Islands countries affected by sea level rise to demand financial compensation from nations with high greenhouse emissions.