Climate change is wreaking havoc across the planet, fueling a surge in extreme weather events that are causing widespread devastation and loss of life. From floods in Brazil to heatwaves in India, the impact of climate change is becoming increasingly apparent.
According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), 2024 has been a particularly bad year for extreme weather, with droughts, extreme heat, and floods causing severe damage to health and livelihoods. The increase in greenhouse emissions from burning coal, oil, and gas is contributing to the intensity and frequency of these extreme events.
In India, a sweltering heatwave has led to temperatures of 47 degrees Celsius, causing deaths and widespread misery. The World Weather Attribution (WWA) has found that the heatwave was 45 times more likely due to climate change and was 0.85 degrees Celsius hotter than it would have been otherwise.
In Brazil, severe floods in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul have claimed over 100 lives and caused billions of dollars in damage. Scientists are attributing the heavy rainfall to human-driven climate change, on top of ongoing warming from El Nino.
In the US, a record number of tornadoes have hit the Midwest and Great Plains, causing significant damage and loss of life. While the causes of tornadoes are hard to pin down, climate change has not been linked to increased wind speeds over land.
Experts warn that while extreme weather events have always occurred, climate change is making them more likely and destructive. The increase in extreme events in recent years is undeniable, highlighting the urgent need for action to mitigate the effects of climate change.