Marketplace All-in-One The climate crisis is an economic crisis (bonus episode)
Sep 29, 2025
Elizabeth Kolbert, a Pulitzer Prize-winning science writer from The New Yorker, discusses how the accelerating climate crisis is wreaking economic havoc. She highlights that 15-20% of U.S. homes are at acute climate risk, potentially resulting in massive real-estate losses. Elizabeth also addresses how investor portfolios are affected by climate risks and the growing sectors thriving on climate-driven demand. She emphasizes the importance of local action while cautioning that we may never see a stable climate again and encourages continued commitment to climate solutions.
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Climate Change Is A Massive Economic Drag
- Rising global temperatures could cost the world economy an estimated $32 trillion per year by 2050.
- The energy transition costs a fraction of that, making decarbonization economically preferable.
Disasters Are Driving Real Economic Pain
- Amy Scott described 27 U.S. extreme weather events costing over $1 billion last year and mounting annual disaster costs.
- She noted average U.S. climate-related disaster costs around $150 billion per year over the last decade.
Home Values Face A Climate Reckoning
- Climate risk is already reshaping housing markets and insurance availability across the U.S.
- Analysts estimate 15–20% of U.S. homes face serious risk from flooding or wildfire.
