Understanding the socioeconomic impact of climate change at fine scale is essential for promoting real-world actions. Here I look back at a 2018 paper that disaggregated the global economic damages from climate change and discuss how high granularity analyses advance climate impact research and policy progress.This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institutionAccess optionsAccess Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journalsGet Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription27,99 € / 30 dayscancel any timeLearn moreSubscribe to this journalReceive 12 print issues and online access269,00 € per yearonly 22,42 € per issueLearn moreRent or buy this articlePrices vary by article typefrom$1.95to$39.95Learn morePrices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkoutReferencesBurke, M., Hsiang, S. M. & Miguel, E. Nature 527, 235–239 (2015).Article CAS Google Scholar Carleton, T. A. & Hsiang, S. M. Science 353, 1112–1127 (2016).Article CAS Google Scholar Ricke, K., Drouet, L., Caldeira, K. & Tavoni, M. Nat. Clim. Change 8, 895–900 (2018).Article CAS Google Scholar Nordhaus, W. D. Estimates of the Social Cost of Carbon: Background and Results from the RICE-2011 Model Working Paper No. 17540 (National Bureau of Economic Research, 2011).Anthoff, D. & Tol, R. Climate Framework for Uncertainty, Negotiation and Distribution (FUND) Model http://www.fund-model.org/ (2014).Ricke, K. L. & Caldeira, K. Environ. Res. Lett. 9, 124002 (2014).Article Google Scholar Conte, B., Desmet, K., Nagy, D. K. & Rossi-Hansberg, E. J. Econ. Geogr. 21, 493–530 (2021).Article Google Scholar Cruz, J. L. & Rossi-Hansberg, E. Rev. Econ. Stud. 91, 899–939 (2024).Article Google Scholar Krusell, P. & Smith, A. A. Jr Climate Change Around the World Working Paper No. 30338 (National Bureau of Economic Research, 2022).Carleton, T. et al. Q. J. Econ. 137, 2037–2105 (2022).Article Google Scholar Carleton, T. et al. The Local Damages from Global Climate Change (Becker Friedman Institute, 2026).Rennert, K. et al. Nature 610, 687–692 (2022).Article CAS Google Scholar Rode, A. et al. Is Workplace Temperature a Valuable Job Amenity? Implications for Climate Change (Becker Friedman Institute, 2024).Burke, M., Zahid, M., Diffenbaugh, N. S. & Hsiang, S. Nature 651, 959–966 (2026).Article CAS Google Scholar Banerjee, A. V., Duflo, E. & Greenstone, M. Just Economics: A Better Deal for People and Planet (Penguin Books, in the press).Download referencesAuthor informationAuthors and AffiliationsInstitute for Climate and Sustainable Growth, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USAAshwin RodeAuthorsAshwin RodeView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarCorresponding authorCorrespondence to Ashwin Rode.Ethics declarationsCompeting interestsThe author declares no competing interests.Rights and permissionsReprints and permissionsAbout this article