- Advancements in “attribution science” are giving researchers more insight into how climate change is specifically increasing the effects of extreme weather events like heatwaves, droughts, and hurricanes and as a result, the areas that may be hit hardest.
- Some regions are feeling the effects of climate change more acutely. For instance, while landlocked states will not have to deal with coastal rising, they are more likely to have to respond to floods from heavy rainstorms.
- Climate change’s impact on the economy can’t be ignored. Weather-related disasters have cost $1 billion in damages per year, including cascading effects on insurance rates, rising food costs, and a predicted 25% loss of physical work capacity for agricultural workers from July to September.
U.S. Climate Assessment: How Extreme Weather Will Impact You
The latest U.S. climate assessment has familiar warnings for areas of the country most affected by extreme weather, along with new information that can help prepare for increasing threats.
The Fifth National Climate Assessment, a congressional report released every five years, has been released. First, the good news: “Across the country, efforts to adapt to climate change and reduce emissions have expanded since 2018, and US emissions have fallen since peaking in 2007.”
That said, the climate risks the country faces are continuing to grow, as all regions are affected by climate change. These risks are wide-ranging, with direct impacts on the water supply, food security, infrastructure, ecosystems, and the economy.
Some of the key highlights of the report: