A recent report highlights that 2025 was a tough year for climate disasters. It started with devastating fires in Los Angeles and ended with cyclones in Southeast Asia. In between, there were major floods in several countries, along with deadly hurricanes. The cost of these disasters? A staggering $120 billion.
Dr. Gaurab Basu, from Harvard Medical School, emphasizes that while climate change is expensive, solutions are far more affordable. He believes the $120 billion figure is likely an underestimate, as it doesn’t cover long-term environmental damage or the health effects on affected communities.
In the U.S., the Trump administration pushed back against renewable energy, particularly against wind and solar developments. However, Massachusetts is moving forward with clean energy initiatives, such as battery storage solutions. Cabell Eames, a strategist with Castling Strategies, insists on the need for battery storage to ensure we have energy when renewable sources are low. Plans are progressing, which Eames sees as a positive development for the state.
In a lighter note, Boston is lifting a long-standing ban on shellfish harvesting in certain areas. Thanks to improved water quality, oysters and clams from Boston Harbor might soon make it to dinner tables by late 2026. Beth Daley, from The Conversation U.S., expressed her excitement about this development, stating she trusts the scientific assessments of the water’s safety.
The challenges from climate disasters are significant, but there’s hope in the form of renewable energy initiatives and environmental improvements, highlighting that while the situation is serious, progress is being made.
For more about the impact and continuing conversation around climate change, you can check out detailed statistics and findings from sources like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
