The Growing Financial Toll of Climate Change on American Households

A new mapping and data tool developed by Environmental Defense Fund and Texas A&M University researchers identifies 184 climate risks faced by communities across the United States, with a focus on the disproportionate vulnerability of Black and Indigenous populations to extreme heat. The tool aims to provide residents with knowledge about the climate risks they face and empower them to advocate for resources and change. The mapping tool reveals disparities in publicly funded services and resources, such as the absence of cooling centers in Beaumont, Texas, a city experiencing more heat-related deaths than 93% of the country. The tool combines 184 data sets to rank the risks of over 70,000 U.S. census tracts, offering a comprehensive view of climate vulnerability. Researchers hope the tool will hold policymakers accountable and spur legislative action to address climate disparities.