Zillow removed climate risk scores. This climate expert is restoring them.

As the threats of floods, wildfires, and extreme heat grow due to climate change, a vital resource for assessing these risks has vanished from Zillow, a leading real estate platform. In November, the site decided to eliminate its climate risk feature after concerns were raised by the California Regional Multiple Listing Service regarding the reliability of its flood risk models. In response to this gap, climate policy expert Neil Matouka is on a mission to reintroduce essential data to home buyers in California. Matouka, who previously oversaw California's Fifth Climate Change Assessment, is developing a proof-of-concept plugin that will provide critical climate information directly to users of Zillow's listings. This innovative tool will automatically display data on various climate risks, including wildfire threats, flood hazards, sea level rise, and exposure to extreme heat. Matouka emphasizes the importance of accessible information, stating, "We don’t need perfect data; we need publicly available, consistent information that helps people understand risk." The removal of climate data from Zillow followed a year after its initial introduction, prompted by the California Regional Multiple Listing Service's inquiry into the accuracy of flood modeling by First Street, a company that supplies climate risk data to Zillow and other real estate platforms. In a statement, the multiple listing service clarified its position, noting, "Our goal is simply to ensure homebuyers are not being presented with information that could be misleading or unfair. We have no objection to the display of accurate climate data." As the effects of climate change become increasingly evident, initiatives like Matouka's could play a crucial role in equipping homebuyers with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions.