US emissions have caused $10tn in global economic damage since 1990, study finds

A new research conducted by Stanford University has found the US has caused an eye-watering $10tn in global damages to the world over the past three decades through its vast planet-heating emissions, with a quarter of this economic pain inflicted upon itself, The Guardian writes.

By being the largest carbon emitter in history, the US has caused greater harm to worldwide economic growth than any other country, ahead of China, now the world’s largest emitter.

About 25% of this GDP dampening has occurred in the US itself, although other countries have borne a heavy toll, with economic losses disproportionately felt in the poorest countries. Since 1990, US emissions have caused an estimated $500bn of economic damage to India and $330bn in damage to Brazil, the research finds.

The US has long resisted the idea of being held legally liable for its planet-heating pollution, which has helped push the world into climatic conditions that haven’t existed in all of human civilization.

The United States has long resisted the idea of being held legally accountable for the planet’s pollution. President Donald Trump even withdrew the country from global climate agreements, encouraging increased oil and gas drilling and obstructing renewable energy projects.