News Center
News on Climate and Environmental Issues
- Aggregated news on climate and environment
- Latest reports and studies
- In-depth articles and expert opinions
The News Center offers a comprehensive update on climate and environmental issues by aggregating news, reports, and expert opinions from multiple sources. It provides the latest articles, in-depth studies, and data on global weather-related disaster losses and fatality rates, as well as damage costs from natural disasters. The section utilizes RSS feeds from various environmental and financial news sources to deliver aggregated news on carbon markets and climate policies, alongside original analysis and commentary. Key features include editorials from climate market leaders and financial analysis of carbon pricing, with a focus on top climate policy news.
Global weather disaster losses as a share of GDP, World
The graph reveals that between 1970 and 2021, the region accounted for 46% of reported economic losses worldwide, with the USA alone incurring US$1.7 trillion in losses. Additionally, the graph demonstrates that extreme weather, climate, and water-related events caused nearly $1.5 trillion in economic losses in the decade leading up to 2019, representing a significant increase from the $184 billion in losses reported in the 1970s.
The graph highlights the impact of climate change on the global economy, suggesting that if global temperatures rise by 3.2°C, climate change could wipe off up to 18% of GDP from the worldwide economy by 2050. Furthermore, the graph indicates that 4.4% of the world’s GDP could be lost annually if no adaptation measures are taken.
Fatality rates in the US due to weather events
The graph shows that the fatality rate due to weather events has been declining over the past few decades, with a significant drop in the number of deaths per million individuals. The data suggests that the fatality rate has decreased by approximately 50% since 1999, indicating a significant improvement in the ability of the US to mitigate the impact of weather events on human life.
The graph also highlights the variability in fatality rates across different types of weather events. For example, the data shows that tornadoes and hurricanes are among the deadliest weather events in the US, with the highest fatality rates per million individuals. In contrast, events such as floods and wildfires have lower fatality rates, but can still cause significant damage and disruption to communities.
Global damage costs from natural disasters
The economic damage caused by natural disasters has been significant over the years. According to recent data, the total damage from natural disasters is estimated to be around $500 billion in 2023 alone. This is a substantial increase from the average annual damage of $50 billion in the 1980s, which has risen to an average of $200 billion in the past decade.
In the United States, climate change-related natural disasters have cost over $2 trillion in recovery costs since 1980. The country has experienced 395 weather and climate disasters with damages exceeding $1 billion (adjusted for inflation) since 1980. These disasters have resulted in significant economic losses, with droughts, wildfires, and floods being among the most costly, with average costs of $11.6 billion, $6.4 billion, and $4.6 billion per event, respectively.