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Issues: Global Warming

The Cost of Climate Change
What We'll Pay if Global Warming Continues Unchecked

Global warming comes with a big price tag for every country in the world. The 80 percent reduction in U.S. emissions needed to stop climate change may not come cheaply, but the cost of failing to act will be much greater. New research shows that if present trends continue, the total cost of global warming will be as high as 3.6 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Four global warming impacts alone -- hurricane damage, real estate losses, energy costs, and water costs -- will come with a price tag of 1.8 percent of U.S. GDP, or almost $1.9 trillion annually (in today's dollars) by 2100. We know how to avert most of these damages through strong action to reduce the emissions that cause global warming. But the longer we wait, the more painful -- and expensive -- the consequences will be.

The Global Warming Price Tag in Four Impact Areas, 2025 through 2100

Cost in billions of 2006 dollars

U.S. Regions Most at Risk

2025

2050

2075

2100

Hurricane Damages

$10

$43

$142

$422

Atlantic & Gulf Coast states

Real Estate Losses

$34

$80

$173

$360

Atlantic & Gulf Coast states

Energy-Sector Costs

$28

$47

$82

$141

Southeast & Southwest

Water Costs

$200

$336

$565

$950

Western states

$271

$506

$961

$1,873


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OVERVIEW & QUICK REFERENCE
Press release
Fact sheet

FULL REPORT IN PDF
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary
Chapter 1: The Global Warming Price Tag Under Business-as-Usual Emissions
Chapter 2: More Intense Hurricanes Cause Financial Damage
Chapter 3: Real Estate Losses as a Result of Sea Level Rise
Chapter 4: Costly Changes to the Energy Sector
Chapter 5: Water and Agriculture Hit Hard by Global Warming
Chapter 6: Modeling U.S. Climate Impacts: Beyond the Stern Review
Chapter 7: Conclusion
Chapter 8: NRDC's Policy Recommendations
Endnote