A new report finds that 2025 was a banner year for climate disasters in the worst way. Beginning with the destructive Eaton and Palisades fires in Los Angeles in January, major floods in China, India, Pakistan and Texas, and deadly hurricanes, Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean, and ending with cyclones that struck Southeast Asia in November.
On top of thousands of deaths, the economic loss from the world’s top-10 climate disasters was high: $120 billion.
“Climate change is really expensive,” said Dr. Gaurab Basu, assistant professor of global health & social medicine at Harvard Medical School. “Climate solutions are much more affordable. There’s nothing I can see that’s as expensive as the impacts of climate change and intervening to prevent those financial costs.”
And experts believe the $120 billion is an underestimate: It doesn’t include long-term environmental effects, loss of livelihood or, as Basu adds, the health repercussions to the people and their environments.
In the United States, the Trump administration has taken a hard-line opposition to certain types of renewable-energy sources, particularly wind and solar. But in Massachusetts, clean-energy initiatives like battery storage are moving forward.
“We need battery storage to be able to meet the grid,” said Cabell Eames, chief strategist for Castling Strategies, which supports climate, clean-energy and resilience advocacy statewide. “We need battery storage so that when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing, we’ve got that energy stored and we can put it out.”
Eames said that although it may take some time for the battery-storage facilities to be brought online, including a proposed one in Everett, the fact that plans are being green-lit and supported by leaders is a “win-win” for the state.
And in Boston, a centuries-old ban on shellfish harvesting is coming to an end in certain parts of Boston Harbor. A recent analysis from the state’s Division of Marine Fisheries found that Winthrop, Hingham and Hull are safe for shellfishing, meaning that oysters, mussels and clams from Boston Harbor could end up on dinner plates by late 2026.
Beth Daley, general manager and executive editor of The Conversation U.S., said this is a terrific step for the city and showcases just how far environmental clean-up efforts have succeeded locally.
So, would she eat shellfish from Boston Harbor? Daley gave a resounding “yes.”
“This is so exciting,” Daley said. “I trust science. I trust that the water is clean enough. It’s awesome! It will take time to convince people, but it’s fantastic.”
All that and more on this week’s environmental news roundtable!
Guests
- Beth Daley, executive editor and general manager of The Conversation, U.S.
- Cabell Eames, chief strategist for Castling Strategies
- Dr. Gaurab Basu, assistant professor of global health & social medicine at Harvard Medical School.
Stories discussed in this week’s roundtable
- Earth.org: 2025 One of Costliest Years for Climate Disasters: Report
- AP: These numbers tell the story of the Los Angeles wildfires, one year later
- Canary Media: How energy affordability took center stage in 2025
- The Conversation: Rising electricity prices and an aging grid challenge the nation as data centers demand more power
- CommonWealth Beacon: Massachusetts kicks off big bet on battery storage
- GBH News: Boston Harbor welcomes back shellfish harvesting, says goodbye to dirty water
- The Conversation: The US used to be really dirty – environmental cleanup laws have made a huge difference
- Boston Globe: Rare win for renewable energy: Trump administration funds expansion of geothermal network in Framingham
- GBH News: Environmental groups praise, raise concerns over proposed Everett soccer stadium
