Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Climate Cast ®
Paul Huttner

Extreme weather cost $280 billion globally in 2021

A dog stands in a street surrounded by the aftermath of a tornado
A dog stands in a street surrounded by the aftermath of a tornado in Dawson Springs, Ky., on Dec. 12, 2021. A monstrous tornado, carving a track that could rival the longest on record, ripped across the state.
Michael Clubb | AP

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

$280 billion — That’s how much in catastrophic losses extreme weather cost us globally in 2021, including 20 events that cost a billion dollars or more in the United States. Those added up to $145 billion in losses.

And the number of billion-dollar weather disasters in the U.S. has soared, from an average of six a year from 2000 to 2010, to 17 a year in since 2016.

Those massive damages are why Munich Re Group and other large insurers are calling for urgent climate action.

Ernst Rauch, chief climate and geoscientist at Munich Re, joined Climate Cast this week to talk about it. Click play on the audio player above or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast to hear more.