Organizations are experiencing the effects of severe weather patterns around the world, from wildfires in North America to floods in Europe and tropical storms in Asia. These events are not only disruptive but also financially consequential.
The survey found that the highest proportions of respondents impacted by extreme weather over the past three years are based in Asia (73%), India, the Middle East, and Africa (68%), and Canada (67%). This regional variability underscores the importance of localized risk assessments and tailored resilience strategies.
According to the survey, 74% of respondents have experienced losses or disruptions to their physical assets due to extreme weather. In addition to physical risks, the survey highlights that these events are increasingly impacting operational and personal safety, with 67% of respondents reporting disruptions or losses related to operations and people.
Importantly, the findings highlight that climate hazards pose risks that extend beyond asset-level concerns. System-wide impacts are also significant, though at lower levels — 35% of organizations reported impacts on their customers, 32% on critical infrastructure, and 21% on resources and ecosystem services.
Given the broad and interconnected nature of climate-related threats, it is no surprise that the financial toll of natural catastrophes continues to escalate. By the end of 2024, global insured catastrophe losses — an understatement of the true magnitude of losses incurred — exceeded US$100 billion for the fifth consecutive year. In 2025, natural catastrophe insurance losses are already on track to exceed this figure.
These trends highlight the urgent need for organizations to take a holistic approach to understand how they have been impacted by losses from extreme weather events so that they can better prepare, respond, and allocate resources.