Global Scans · Climate change · Weekly Summary

A global catastrophic risk is a hypothetical future event that has the potential to damage human well-being on a global scale. Some events could cripple or destroy modern civilization. Any event that could cause human extinction is known as an existential risk.

• [New] Extreme heatwaves are becoming hotter, longer and more severe as climate change intensifies, putting lives, wildlife and ecosystems at severe risk. Friends of the Earth
• [New] Developing countries urgently need funding to meet the Sustainable Development Goals, address climate change, and protect biodiversity, with total annual requirements approaching USD 6 trillion by 2030. International Institute for Sustainable Development
• [New] Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of flooding, and the Environment Agency now puts around 4.6 million properties in England at risk from surface water alone. Unda
• [New] Climate change could cause up to 15.6 million additional deaths between 2026 and 2050 and inflict $8.6 trillion to $15.4 trillion in health costs by mid-century. Health Policy Watch
• The growing global population has underscored the connection between demographic trends, climate change and sustainable development, making investment in education, health care and economic opportunities increasingly important, particularly for women and young people. KT
• Tweet Gas expansion is inconsistent with the Paris Agreement goals: 1.5 °C scenarios published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change see global gas consumption declining by 55% between 2020 and 2050 and unabated gas power generation by 87%. IISD

Last updated: 02 August 2026