A staggering 800,000 lives have been lost, and $4.2 trillion in economic damage has been inflicted by extreme weather events over the past three decades, according to the latest edition of the Climate Risk Index, released recently by the environmental organization Germanwatch. The report highlights the growing frequency and intensity of floods, droughts, storms, and heatwaves, which are increasingly becoming the “new normal” in some parts of the world.

The Climate Risk Index 2025 analyzes the impacts of more than 9,400 extreme weather events between 1993 and 2022, ranking countries based on fatalities, economic losses, and the number of people affected. The findings reveal that countries in the Global South, including Dominica, China, and Honduras, have borne the brunt of these disasters. However, high-income nations such as Italy, Spain, and Greece also feature among the top ten most affected countries globally.

Key Findings from the Report

• Human Toll: Nearly 800,000 people have died as a result of extreme weather events over the past 30 years.
• Economic Damage: The total economic losses amount to $4.2 trillion (inflation-adjusted), equivalent to the entire GDP of Germany.
• Most Affected Countries: Dominica, Honduras, Myanmar, and Vanuatu were hit hardest by exceptional extreme events, while China, India, and the Philippines faced recurring disasters.
• EU Impact: Italy, Spain, and Greece were among the most affected nations, with Italy alone losing over 38,000 lives to heatwaves in 2003 and 2022.

Laura Schaefer, Head of Division for International Climate Policy at Germanwatch, emphasized the urgency of addressing the climate crisis, “The climate crisis is increasingly becoming a global security risk and must be addressed with bold multilateral actions. Leaders at the Munich Security Conference cannot discuss security challenges this weekend without addressing climate change. The past three decades show that countries in the Global South are particularly affected by extreme weather events. If the data from these countries were as comprehensive as those from many Global North countries, an even greater degree of economic and human effects might become visible.”

Economic and Human Costs

The report underscores the disproportionate impact on vulnerable nations. For example, the losses incurred by Dominica from a single extreme weather event exceeded the country’s entire gross domestic product. In China, floods, typhoons, and droughts affected millions, while Italy’s heatwaves claimed tens of thousands of lives.

David Eckstein, Senior Advisor for Climate Finance and Investments at Germanwatch and co-author of the index, warned of the consequences of inaction, “High-income and high-emission countries must recognize the urgency of accelerating mitigation efforts. Over the past 30 years, losses totaling $4.2 trillion are comparable to the entire GDP of Germany. The less we invest in mitigation and adaptation today, the more staggering the human and economic costs will be in the future.”

Calls for Action

The report calls for increased financial support to help vulnerable countries adapt to climate change and manage losses and damages. Lina Adil, Policy Advisor for Adaptation and Loss & Damage at Germanwatch and co-author of the index, stressed the need for global cooperation, “Most vulnerable countries are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change partly due to their limited financial and technical capabilities to adapt and manage losses and damages. Simultaneously, to prevent further loss and damage, countries urgently need to ramp up their mitigation action with new nationally determined contributions to stay below or as close as possible to 1.5°C warming.”

The Staggering Costs

Since 2006, the Climate Risk Index has provided a comprehensive analysis of the impacts of extreme weather events, using data from the International Disaster Database (EM-DAT) and socio-economic data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). While the index does not directly attribute specific events to climate change, it highlights the growing influence of human-induced climate change on the frequency and intensity of extreme weather.

Vera Kuenzel, Senior Advisor for Adaptation and Human Rights at Germanwatch and co-author of the index, concluded, “The index results clearly show that all countries need to improve their climate risk management to be better prepared for extremes and minimize human and economic damage. The most vulnerable countries need to be supported in this effort.”

As the world grapples with the escalating climate crisis, the Climate Risk Index 2025 serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for global action to mitigate its devastating impacts.