The 10 U.S. states that are least prepared for climate change and extreme weather are:

• The reality of climate-related damage and the expense of mitigating or insuring against it cannot be denied, despite differing opinions on climate change.
• When deciding where to locate, companies consider climate risks.
• The annual America's Top States for Business competitiveness rankings by CNBC take into account sustainability and resilience. However, some states pose a greater risk than others.

Nearly $93 billion in damage was caused by weather and climate disasters in the U.S. last year, regardless of whether they are due to climate change or natural occurrences.

"According to Jeremy Porter, head of climate implications for First Street Foundation, every location in the country faces some level of risk, whether it's from wildfires, wind, floods, or extreme heat."

While some states are more susceptible to risks than others, even those that aren't are not taking sufficient measures to minimize those risks.

"According to Maria Lehman, Director of U.S. Infrastructure for global engineering firm GHD and president of the American Society of Civil Engineers, having power and water is essential. If these necessities fail, it adds cost, which makes businesses less economically competitive."

When deciding where to locate, companies increasingly consider a state's sustainability and resilience.

What is the reason behind CNBC's inclusion of sustainability in the Infrastructure category of the America's Top States for Business study? In this year's methodology, Infrastructure is the most heavily weighted category, accounting for 17% of a state's overall ranking.

We examined factors such as state-level data from First Street for properties susceptible to significant harm from flooding, heat, wildfires, and wind in the upcoming 30 years.

We examined NOAA data on extreme weather in the primary geographic regions of the state and DOE data on renewable power.

While some states are adept at managing the increasing threats, these ten states require more effort.

10. Maryland

The Chesapeake Bay region in Maryland is at risk from climate change due to its extensive coastline, which is almost 12,000 miles long.

According to University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Professor Ming Li, sea level is rising at a rate of 3 to 5 millimeters per year, which is twice the global average, resulting in rising water levels, sediment, and ground subsidence.

Over the next 30 years, nearly 11% of the state's 2.2 million properties are at risk of major damage due to flooding, according to First Street.

In 2021, Maryland adopted a ten-year Climate Adaptation Resilience Framework to make its infrastructure more sustainable by 2030. Additionally, Gov. Wes Moore stated in June that the collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge has prompted a review of all the region's infrastructure.

The 2024 Infrastructure Score is 188 out of 425 points, with the top states receiving a grade of C-.

Climate Extremes Index (National Average: 32.92%): 62.44%

Properties at risk: 97%

Renewable Energy: 18%

9. (tie) Delaware

Despite being a small state, Delaware faces significant climate challenges, with a report from 2022 predicting that climate change will cost the state over $1 billion annually by 2080. The primary risk factor is sea level rise, similar to neighboring Maryland. To address these challenges, Delaware has developed a Climate Resilience Action Plan that includes both infrastructure hardening and the promotion of renewable energy, an area in which the state is deficient.

The 2024 Infrastructure Score is 230 out of 425 points, with the top states receiving a grade of B.

Climate Extremes Index: 62.44%

Properties at risk: 100%

Renewable Energy: 14%

9. (tie) Texas

In contrast to many states, Texas lacks a comprehensive statewide strategy to address climate risks, despite facing extreme weather such as heat, cold, and hurricanes. The Texas power grid, which is not linked to a larger interconnect, has already experienced outages. While the state has abundant wind energy resources, renewables are underutilized in the oil-rich heart of the state.

The 2024 Infrastructure Score is 224 out of 425 points, with the top states receiving a grade of B-.

Climate Extremes Index: 48.6%

Properties at risk: 99%

Renewable Energy: 34%

7. New Hampshire

New Hampshire's temperature has increased by approximately three degrees in the past century, resulting in significant environmental impacts. The state is experiencing a decline in wetlands and trees, and flooding is becoming a problem during rainfall instead of snowfall. Additionally, the lack of snow cover is affecting crop yields and winter recreation. A 2021 statewide climate assessment prepared by researchers at the University of New Hampshire predicts an increase in droughts and a decrease in snowpack, which poses risks to the state's aging infrastructure.

The 2024 Infrastructure Score is 145 out of 425 points, with the top states receiving a grade of F.

Climate Extremes Index: 62.44%

Properties at risk: 40%

Renewable Energy: 21%

6. Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection predicts that every county in the Keystone State will experience an increase in average annual rainfall of 8%, posing a diverse set of risks due to the state's diverse climate.

The report, published in 2021, goes beyond floods and heatwaves to include landslides, erosion, damage to farms, and an increase in heat-related illnesses, allergies, and tick-borne diseases. The report is short on recommendations but calls for the state to prioritize flood mitigation, protect disadvantaged groups and communities, and conduct more research.

Pennsylvania's power mix is not significantly made up of renewable energy, as the report barely mentions it.

The 2024 Infrastructure Score is 235 out of 425 points, with the top states receiving a grade of B.

Climate Extremes Index: 62.44%

Properties at risk: 54%

Renewable Energy: 4%

5. Ohio

The Great Lakes and the Ohio Valley regions of The Buckeye State are predicted to face higher temperatures, intense rainfall, and flash droughts, according to the Fifth National Climate Assessment, a federal study that divides U.S. climate risks by region. While the state is already taking steps to address some of the potential consequences with initiatives like H2Ohio, which aims to preserve wetlands and tackle algae blooms on Lake Erie caused by farm runoff, state climatologist Aaron Wilson believes more comprehensive strategies are necessary.

The 2024 Infrastructure Score is 246 out of 425 points, with the top-performing states receiving a B+ grade.

Climate Extremes Index: 39.82%

Properties at risk: 14%

Renewable Energy: 5%

4. Mississippi

Mississippi, known as the Magnolia State, has long faced risks from hurricanes and is now on the edge of Tornado Alley, which is moving eastward. Unlike most states, Mississippi's temperature has cooled, but studies show that sea levels are rising and could increase by up to four feet in the next century. First Street reports that every one of the state's nearly 2 million properties are at risk of major damage in the next 30 years. Despite this, Mississippi has no statewide strategy to deal with the changing climate, and renewable energy seems to be little more than an afterthought.

The 2024 Infrastructure Score is 154 out of 425 points, with the top states receiving a grade of D-.

Climate Extremes Index: 48.6%

Properties at risk: 100%

Renewable Energy: 5%

3. Connecticut

In The Constitution State, a near-perfect climate storm is occurring, with warming temperatures, intensifying severe weather such as Nor'easters, and rising sea levels. The Connecticut Department of Public Health reports that the effects are widespread, impacting the quality of life, increasing healthcare costs, and worsening health outcomes. In 2021, the state adopted a climate action plan that aims to reduce CO2 levels by 45% by 2030. To achieve this goal, the state will likely need to increase its use of renewable energy.

The 2024 Infrastructure Score is 216 out of 425 points, with the top states receiving a grade of C+.

Climate Extremes Index: 62.44%

Properties at risk: 96%

Renewable Energy: 8%

1. (tie) Louisiana

Louisiana has experienced numerous disasters due to climate change since 1980, totaling over $1 billion in damages. These events include 14 droughts, 10 floods, one deep freeze, 43 severe storms, 25 tropical cyclones, and nine winter storms. In 2020, Governor John Bel Edwards established a Climate Initiatives Task Force and set a goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. However, it is uncertain if the new administration will continue with this strategy.

The 2024 Infrastructure Score is 179 out of 425 points, with the top states receiving a grade of D+.

Climate Extremes Index: 48.6%

Properties at risk: 100%

Renewable Energy: 6%

1. (tie) New Jersey

New Jersey is experiencing the effects of a changing climate, with severe weather becoming more frequent. However, the New Jersey Climate Change Resource Center emphasizes that it is not just high-profile events like Hurricane Sandy in 2012 that are causing the damage.

"Researchers point out that even small changes in the climate can have significant effects, and because these impacts often occur at the same time, they can amplify each other and worsen existing vulnerabilities."

Rising sea levels, caused by more intense storms resulting from warmer temperatures, pose a threat to public health and infrastructure in the state.

Gov Phil Murphy's Strategic Climate Action Plan aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and 80% by 2050, while also increasing resilience across all sectors.

The 2024 Infrastructure Score is 211 out of 425 points, with the top states receiving a grade of C+.

Climate Extremes Index: 62.44%

Properties at risk: 97%

Renewable Energy: 12%