Worst Climate-Related Disasters Since 2010

Super Typhoon Goni was named the strongest tropical cyclone to make landfall in the history of the world. The storm hit Catanduanes Island in the Philippines in November of 2020, killing 31 people and destroying hundreds of thousands of homes, at an estimated $415 million worth of damage.

While the world record for highest temperature remains at 134°F, this Death Valley record is considered unreliable and has been disputed. Instead, 2020’s record of 129.9°F in the same locale may be considered the more reliable reading and is set to become the new record, once it is fully reviewed by the World Meteorological Organization.

In 2020, China’s monsoon season caused extreme flooding, which led to the deaths of 278 people and affected over 70 million more. The deluge also damaged at least 1.4 million homes and businesses, causing an estimated $32 billion in damage.

In September, 2020, arctic sea ice melted to an extreme low point, the second-lowest ever recorded. Scientists predict that all summer ice in the Arctic will have melted by 2050, only freezing again during winters. This climate change-related event is more directly linked to carbon dioxide emissions.

Between increasing temperatures and minimal rain, California has faced some of its driest years on record, with the 2020-2021 season being the second driest in 100 years. When temperatures are high, water in watersheds evaporates, resulting in drought and aridification. The drought has negatively impacted California’s economy, with $1.1 billion in losses, and it is dangerous for future wildfires.