Impacts

Without urgent action to curb emissions and restore ecosystems, the global economy could shrink by 50% between 2070 and 2090 due to climate-driven disasters, according to a report by actuaries and scientists.

Sandra Laville reports for The Guardian.

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As wildfires intensify due to climate change, author John Vaillant warns that our old strategies to manage fires are no longer enough.

Kiley Bense reports for Inside Climate News.

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The ongoing Los Angeles wildfires are set to cause long-term economic strain, health risks and rising housing costs as the region grapples with widespread destruction.

Lydia DePillis reports for The New York Times.

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The fast-moving Eaton Fire that swept through Altadena, California, last week destroyed thousands of homes and forced residents to confront growing risks of urban firestorms. Many other communities are vulnerable to a similar fate.

John Muyskens, Sarah Kaplan, Niko Kommenda, Naema Ahmed and Simon Ducroquet report for The Washington Post.

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Houston's unpreparedness for Hurricane Beryl, which compounded existing disasters, reveals systemic failures in disaster response, infrastructure and public health protections in vulnerable communities.

Jana Cholakovska reports for Public Health Watch.

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As urban fires sweep through Los Angeles, experts warn that homes filled with plastic-based materials burn hotter, faster and emit hazardous toxins.

Zoë Schlanger reports for The Atlantic.

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The H5N1 bird flu virus, now infecting dozens of mammal species and killing humans, signals an urgent need to address cross-species pandemics fueled by biodiversity loss and industrial farming.

Phoebe Weston reports for The Guardian.

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As wildfires ravage Los Angeles, California's last-resort insurance program is nearing insolvency, forcing homeowners to bear the financial fallout of climate-driven disasters. It may be a harbinger of future crises across the country.

Lois Parshley reports for The Lever.

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Houston's unpreparedness for Hurricane Beryl, which compounded existing disasters, reveals systemic failures in disaster response, infrastructure and public health protections in vulnerable communities.

Jana Cholakovska reports for Public Health Watch.

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President-elect Donald Trump will oversee federal disaster funding for Los Angeles County’s wildfire recovery, prompting concerns from California officials about potential delays or conditions.

Thomas Frank and Scott Waldman report for E&E News.

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A UCLA analysis suggests Los Angeles’ recent wildfires burned hotter and spread faster due to fossil fuel-driven climate change, which contributed to drier conditions and more fuel for the flames.

Angela Fritz reports for CNN.

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As Pacific Palisades residents grapple with the aftermath of a devastating wildfire, some fear their hometown may become unrecognizable amid commercial development and soaring property values.

Tim Golden reports for ProPublica.

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With fires continuing to devastate Los Angeles, residents face hard questions about rebuilding amid rising wildfire risks and mounting housing challenges.

Reis Thebault reports for The Washington Post.

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A historic drought in Suriname’s interior has dried up rivers, slowed transport and triggered food and water shortages, leaving thousands in remote villages without essential services.

Jason Pinas reports for The Guardian.

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As Los Angeles residents return to neighborhoods scarred by recent wildfires, experts warn that toxic ash and chemical residues from burned homes, vehicles and infrastructure pose ongoing health and environmental risks.

Amudalat Ajasa and Ruby Mellen report for The Washington Post.

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom has expanded a special legislative session to include $2.5 billion in wildfire aid as Los Angeles County faces devastating fires and potential federal relief delays under the incoming Trump administration.

Blake Jones reports for POLITICO.

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House Speaker Mike Johnson said discussions are underway to make California wildfire relief conditional on a debt ceiling agreement, a move that has sparked Democratic opposition but gained traction among some Republicans facing disaster recovery pressure.

Meredith Lee Hill reports for POLITICO.

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Record global heat in 2024 fueled longer heat waves, worsening air quality and public health in regions from India to Nigeria to Brazil, where extreme weather compounded pollution and respiratory disease risks.

Simrin Sirur reports for Mongabay with Orji Sunday and Karla Mendes.

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