The year 2024 has been marked by extreme weather events that have challenged billions of people around the world. Climate change has brought record-breaking heat, hurricanes, droughts, and floods, causing widespread suffering and damage.
⛈️ Climate change led to 41 days of dangerous heat in 2024, harming humans and ecosystems, according to new report by @WWAtribution.@FrediOtto: “Extreme weather killed thousands, forced millions from their homes and caused unrelenting suffering."
➡️ https://t.co/CMXhbIfAmA pic.twitter.com/rt5ulUYKFN
— Imperial College London (@imperialcollege) December 27, 2024
Researchers from the World Weather Attribution group at Imperial College and Climate Central estimate that in 2024, the world’s populations experienced an additional 41 days of dangerous heat compared to a world without climate change.
“The impacts of fossil fuel warming have never been clearer or more devastating than in 2024,” said Dr. Friederike Otto, lead of WWA and Senior Lecturer in Climate Science at Imperial College London. “We are living in a dangerous new era – extreme weather caused unrelenting suffering.”
🌡️ #ShowYourStripes sparked vital climate conversations. With 2024 likely to be the hottest year on record, let’s keep the momentum going to push for continued progress on the #GlobalGoals in 2025. pic.twitter.com/92BrNH6bIL
— World Meteorological Organization (@WMO) December 29, 2024
At the end of what's set to be the hottest year on record, scientists @WWAttribution & @ClimateCentral have sounded the alarm about the #climate & #weather extremes we’re already experiencing – and warned things could get even more serious if we don't act https://t.co/lKtnTD32sZ
— Megan Rowling (@meganrowling) December 27, 2024
The Amazon region suffered from a heatwave exacerbated by climate change, coupled with reduced rainfall across parts of South America.
This led to significantly reduced levels in the Amazon River, affecting power supply, crop yield, and leading to wildfires.
Dr Friederike Otto: "We know exactly what we need to do to stop things from getting worse: stop burning #FossilFuels. The top resolution for 2025 must be transitioning away from fossil fuels, which will make the world a safer & more stable place” https://t.co/BOoKJkd94C
— Carbon Tracker (@CarbonBubble) December 27, 2024
Nearly half a million children were affected as schools in Brazil and Colombia closed due to a lack of drinking water. The Philippines faced a record-breaking six typhoons in just 30 days across October and November, following six months of storms.
Extreme weather impacts millions globally
Although there is currently no evidence that climate change is increasing the number of typhoons, research suggests it may be increasing their intensity. The US experienced two back-to-back hurricanes – Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton – which left more than 260 dead and caused $115bn in damage.
Elevated ocean temperatures in the Atlantic, which fuel hurricanes, led to Hurricane Beryl becoming the Atlantic’s earliest category five hurricane on record on July 2. Flooding in Sudan and Nigeria in August and September highlighted how extreme weather can be exacerbated by poorly maintained infrastructure. The flooding led to several dam collapses, killing dozens of people and forcing thousands from their homes.
Julie Arrighi, director of programs at the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, emphasized the need to enhance preparedness for extreme weather to reduce loss of life and damages. “We are not well prepared for life at 1.3-1.5°C of warming,” she said. The World Weather Attribution and other organizations continue to study and highlight the impact of climate change, stressing the urgency for global action to mitigate its devastating effects.
As the world faces the consequences of a changing climate, it is clear that more needs to be done to protect vulnerable populations and build resilience against extreme weather events.
April Isaacs is a news contributor for DevX.com She is long-term, self-proclaimed nerd. She loves all things tech and computers and still has her first Dreamcast system. It is lovingly named Joni, after Joni Mitchell.
