{
  "id": 4688661,
  "title": "Climate scientists worry about ‘gamification’ of extreme weather as Kalshi moves to verify weather trades",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/climate-scientists-worry-about-gamification-of-extreme-weather-as",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-31T18:15:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fast Company",
    "slug": "fast-company",
    "url": "https://www.fastcompany.com/91598237/climate-scientists-worry-about-gamification-of-extreme-weather-as-kalshi-moves-to-verify-weather-trades"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Climate scientists have voiced concerns over the \"gamification\" of extreme weather as Kalshi, a prediction market platform, partners with The Weather Company to verify weather-related trades. Kalshi claims this will provide \"science-backed data\" to help individuals and businesses anticipate and manage weather and climate's impacts on their daily lives. However, experts worry about the potential for manipulation, bad actors, and desensitization to the risks of weather events.\n\nClimatologist Michael Mann states that betifying our world can create \"perverse incentives\" and may contribute to conspiracy theories about scientists manipulating weather. He adds that heat waves, while the deadliest weather-related hazard in the U.S., are often treated lightly in media coverage. Turning heat into a bet could further downplay its dangers.\n\nWhile Kalshi is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and prohibits insider trading, it also bans markets on wildfires, which can be controlled by individuals. However, some climate scientists argue that tapping into prediction markets could raise awareness and concern about climate change. A 2025 study suggests that people who placed bets on climate-related events became more informed and concerned about the issue. Nevertheless, experts worry that cognitive dissonance around climate change may still prevent widespread concern.",
  "summary": "Will 2026 be the hottest year we’ve ever seen? You can bet on it—literally, on Kalshi. The prediction market platform is now partnering with The Weather Company, which runs both the Weather Channel app and weather.com , to verify weather-related trades. According to Kalshi, the move will provide “science-backed data” that allows both individuals and businesses to anticipate and manage “the ways…",
  "key_points": [
    "Climate scientists worry about 'gamification' of extreme weather",
    "Kalshi partners with The Weather Company to verify weather trades",
    "Experts fear manipulation, bad actors, and desensitization to risks"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}