Asia has lost $2 trillion to extreme weather in the past 3 decades

In the last 30 years, Asia has suffered the greatest economic impact from extreme weather, losing a staggering $2 trillion. China has been the most affected, with $706 billion in damages and over 42,000 lives lost due to floods, heatwaves, and other severe events.

Globally, there have been 9,400 extreme weather events in the same timeframe, leading to $4.2 trillion in economic losses and claiming 765,000 lives. These events underline the escalating financial and human costs of climate change.

Glaciers around the world are melting faster than ever, losing more than 6,500 billion tonnes of ice since 2000. If fully melted, sea levels could rise by 32 cm. The loss rate over the past decade was nearly a third higher than the previous one, highlighting an alarming acceleration.

New research shows that sunscreen can contribute to coral bleaching and harm marine life by reducing fish fertility. Even water-resistant sunscreens wash off quickly, and it’s estimated that 35 kg of sunscreen enters the ocean for every 1,000 beachgoers.

According to the Global Risks Report 2025, the four top long-term risks are all nature-related: extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, critical changes to Earth’s systems, and the depletion of natural resources.

Which of these pressing environmental stories stands out most to you? Watch the video to explore more.