This year has been marked by an alarming increase in extreme weather events across the globe, with climate change significantly deepening its impact on communities. As nearly two million displaced individuals in Gaza face additional distress from consecutive heatwaves, the year is projected to be the hottest on record. Research from the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group highlights that due to climate change, people around the world experienced an additional 41 days of dangerous heat in 2024.
From South America to Southeast Asia, the ramifications of these weather extremes have conflicted with local populations. April's heatwave affected numerous countries, with warning systems stressing the heightened risk faced by young people and the elderly with existing health issues, particularly in conflict-affected regions where infrastructure is strained.
Dr. Friederike Otto from Imperial College London pointedly remarked on the current perilous phase we are in due to fossil fuel-related warming, emphasizing the clear and devastating impacts felt globally this year. The Amazon River saw water levels plummet by 90% during a regional heatwave, exacerbated by an El Niño phenomenon. As reported by UNICEF, this has led to school closures in Brazil and Colombia, profoundly affecting nearly 500,000 children due to a lack of water.
Simultaneously, the Philippines faced an unprecedented typhoon season, registering six typhoons within just 30 days, which resulted in over 1,200 fatalities and significant destruction across Southeast Asia. Surprisingly, scientists found no increase in typhoon numbers, yet the intensity of storms correlates directly with rising ocean temperatures, enhanced by climate change.
The affluent United States also succumbed to this extreme weather narrative, suffering two back-to-back hurricanes, causing over 260 deaths and wreaking havoc costing $115 billion in damages. Reports confirmed that abnormal ocean temperatures were partly to blame for the season's ferocity, indicating a shift in how storm patterns are evolving.
Furthermore, severe flooding in Nigeria, Chad, and Sudan saw infrastructure inadequacies exposed as heavy rains triggered dam collapses, emphasizing the urgent need for improved preparations to counteract the life-threatening impacts of extreme weather. Julie Arrighi from the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre stated that our current state is far from where we need to be in adapting to a rapidly warming world.
This year's extreme weather anomalies illustrate that humanity faces a future replete with challenges if immediate action is not undertaken to mitigate climate change and its far-reaching effects on everyday life.
