Released in November 2025 by Germanwatch, the Climate Risk Index 2026 provides a comprehensive retrospective assessment of the human and economic impacts of extreme weather events worldwide, highlighting the escalation of climate-related disasters and the urgent need for enhanced climate resilience and action.
Key Insights
Rising Human & Economic Costs: From 1995–2024, extreme weather events caused over 832,000 deaths and USD 4.5 trillion in economic losses, showing a sharp escalation in climate-related impacts.
Disproportionate Impact on Vulnerable Countries: Low- and lower-middle-income countries, especially small island states and fragile contexts, are consistently the most affected, reflecting limited adaptive capacity.
Extreme Events Becoming the “New Normal”: Floods, storms, heatwaves, and droughts are increasing in frequency and intensity, driven by human-induced climate change.
Urgent Need for Action: The report calls for faster emissions reductions, stronger adaptation, and scaled-up loss and damage finance to address mounting climate risks.
