From the Maui wildfires to Hurricane Idalia hitting Florida, extreme weather events have caused severe devastation to homes and businesses this summer. On Capitol Hill, consumer and affordable housing advocates sounded the the alarm Thursday on property insurance costs and availability during a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing. Douglas Heller, director of insurance at the Consumer Federation… Continue reading Senate Committee Hears Testimony on Property Insurance Issues
Tag: climate change
Climate Change Boosts Risk of Explosive Wildfire Growth in California by 25%, Study Says
Climate change has ratcheted up the risk of explosive wildfire growth in California by 25% and will continue to drive extreme fire behavior for decades to come, even if planet-warming emissions are reduced, a new study has found.
Chicago Is Spending $3.8 Billion to Fight Flooding. It Might Not Be Enough.
Engineers have spent nearly 50 years and billions of dollars building huge tunnels and reservoirs to protect this city from flooding. In a changing climate, it may no longer be enough.
Rising Flood Risks Threaten Many Water and Sewage Treatment Plants Across the U.S.
Water infrastructure across the country is vulnerable as climate change makes storms more unpredictable and destructive, flooding low-lying drinking water treatment plants and overwhelming coastal sewage systems.
Record Hot Oceans Are Driving Weather Disasters Around the World
Global ocean surface temperatures in June were the highest in 174 years of data, with the emergence of the El Niño weather pattern piling onto the long-term trend. Near Miami, coastal Atlantic waters are pushing 90F (32C.)
Climate Change Lawsuits More than Double in 5 Years as Impacts Hit Home
The number of court cases related to climate change has more than doubled in five years as impacts ranging from shrinking water resources to dangerous heatwaves hit home for millions, a report said on Thursday.
Automated Weather Insurance Could Offer Help in an Increasingly Hot World
A startup wants to help the insurance industry be more responsive to volatile weather and the widespread damage it can cause.
Property Insurers Curb New Policies in Cat-Prone Areas Nationally
Insurance companies are pulling back on homeowners’ policies in vulnerable areas nationally out of fear of floods, storms and fires made worse by climate change and soaring costs of rebuilding.
Higher Interest Rates Also Impacting How Insurance Market Handles Climate Risk
Climate change is one of the causes of California’s insurance problems, but it should share the spotlight with interest rates these days.
Insurers Need More Climate Change Data. Scientists Say They Can Help.
Climate-driven floods, hurricanes, wildfires and heat waves cause billions of dollars of damage every year in the United States. Federal scientists hope that better access to climate data will help one industry adapt: property insurers.