California blazes scorch insurance claims to record highs since 2011, Munich Re reports
Global Natural Disaster Losses Hit $80 Billion in First Half of 2025
Reinsurance titan Munich Re reported that insurers worldwide absorbed nearly $80 billion in damages from natural disasters in the year’s first 180 days—a figure that ranks only second‑highest since 1980.
Los Angeles Wildfires Dominate the Loss Profile
- January blaze around Los Angeles generated $40 billion of insured damage, setting a record for wildfire losses.
- The twin infernos claimed 31 lives and demolished over 16,000 residential and commercial structures.
- Climate‑change impacts were underscored by board member Thomas Blunck: “Climate change is a fact… adaptation is mandatory for people, authorities, and companies.”
Historical Context: 2011’s Catastrophic Terror
The first half of 2011 saw higher insured loss totals after a colossal earthquake triggered a tsunami, decimated 18,500 lives, and caused the Fukushima nuclear plant to melt down. 2015’s data therefore represent the second‑largest post‑1980 loss event.
Worldwide Damage and Insured Loss Proportions
- When uninsured losses are included, total global damage in 2025 was $131 billion, down from $155 billion in the prior year’s first 180 days.
- Weather‑related factors made up approximately 90 % of overall losses and 98 % of insured losses.
Climate‑Change Evidence and Record‑Setting Temperatures
- Scientific consensus indicates that anthropogenic CO₂ emissions intensify extreme weather events—droughts, wildfires, and other disasters.
- Western Europe recorded its hottest June on record this year.
- On Saturday, Turkey registered a nationwide temperature record of 50.5 °C.
Munich Re’s findings reinforce the urgency of global adaptation measures in light of escalating environmental risks.
