Ashley Siefert Nunes
WASHINGTON—The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) today released its annual report tallying the toll of extreme weather and climate disasters in the United States for 2024. According to the agency, last year at least 568 lives were lost in 27 separate disasters that each reported damages of $1 billion or more with a total economic cost of at least $182.7 billion. Per the report, 2024 ranks second in number of billion-dollar climate and extreme weather-related disasters and fourth in costs of these events, with Hurricanes Helene and Milton confirmed as the most costly and deadly. The release of this data comes as U.S. and several global scientific agencies confirm that 2024 was the hottest year on record for the world.
Human-caused climate change, primarily driven by fossil fuel use, is rapidly worsening as the planet warms and is contributing to many of these types of disasters—including extreme heat, wildfires, droughts, intensified storms and flooding. Extreme weather events are also adding undue stress to the U.S. electric grid and other essential infrastructure; creating disproportionate hardships for low-income communities and communities of color; being exacerbated by maladaptive policies and development choices; and escalating harm to people, the economy and critical ecosystems.
Below is a statement by Dr. Rachel Cleetus, the policy director and lead economist for the Climate and Energy Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).
“This data underscores that climate-driven disasters, compounded by increased development in high-risk places, are incredibly costly and deadly for people across the United States. It’s reprehensible that some policymakers continue to deny that reality even as lives, livelihoods and entire communities are upended, sometimes repeatedly, by terrifying storms, wildfires, floods and droughts. These disasters affected every region of the country, reverberating throughout the economy, harming homeowners and renters, farmers, insurance markets, business operations, critical infrastructure, public health and more.
“Proactively investing in climate resilience and early warning systems, while reforming maladaptive policies and market incentives that exacerbate risks, is crucial. Instead of helping people get back on their feet quickly in the aftermath of disasters, Congress has repeatedly let disaster relief funding run dangerously low and delayed supplementing it. These kinds of cynical actions keep communities and small businesses waiting in desperation for the aid they need and deserve and will have increasingly grave consequences as extreme disasters worsen and pile up year after year.
“Meanwhile, fossil fuel companies show no sign of tapering down their harmful products and seem intent on burning down the planet to protect their profits. Policymakers in their thrall have much to answer for, as do market actors such as banks and insurance companies that continue to facilitate unfettered fossil fuel expansion.
“Last year’s record-breaking heat and billion-dollar disasters are an alarming harbinger of what’s to come if the nation fails to invest in a climate-resilient economy and do its part to sharply cut global heat-trapping emissions. It’s time for decisionmakers at all levels of government and across the economy to acknowledge the staggering financial costs and human toll of burning fossil fuels and commit to building a stronger, safer economy powered by clean energy.”
UCS also has experts available who can speak about the connection between climate change and extreme weather events, trends observed during the 2024 “Danger Season,” the latest attribution science showing the responsibility of fossil fuel companies for climate impacts and damages, the consequences of costly climate and extreme weather events on homeowner insurance rates, and what policymakers can do to lower carbon emissions and help at-risk communities adequately prepare for mounting impacts. UCS experts have extensive experience doing live and taped TV, radio, and print interviews with international, national, and state media outlets.
- Dr. Astrid Caldas, a senior climate scientist for community resilience at UCS. She is available for interviews in English and Portuguese. Dr. Caldas is based in Washington, D.C. Click here for her biography.
- Dr. Juan Declet-Barreto, a senior social scientist for climate vulnerability at UCS. He is available for interviews in English and Spanish. Dr. Declet-Barreto is based in Washington, D.C. Click here for his biography.
- Zoe Middleton, the associate director of just climate resilience at UCS. She is based in Houston, Texas. Click here to view her biography.
- Shana Udvardy, a senior climate resilience policy analyst at UCS. She is based in Washington, D.C. Click here to view her biography.
If you have any questions or would like to arrange an interview with Dr. Cleetus or another UCS expert, please contact UCS Climate and Energy Media Manager Ashley Siefert Nunes.