Climate Change

The climate threat level is elevated due to several concerning developments: policy rollbacks, such as the SEC's move to repeal climate disclosure rules, undermine efforts to mitigate climate change. Concurrently, extreme weather events, like wildfires and heatwaves, are intensifying, exacerbating ecological damage and public health issues. The potential for climate change to exacerbate diseases, as seen with hantavirus, and the risk of ecosystem collapse, such as the shrinking habitats for plant species, further highlight the urgent need for comprehensive action. These factors, combined with skepticism about international commitments to climate action, suggest a high risk of both near-term and long-term impacts.