In 2024, the warmest year on record, unprecedented air and ocean surface temperatures have intensified cyclones, heatwaves, and extreme weather phenomena globally.
From the small French archipelago of Mayotte to the affluent cities of Europe, no region escaped the natural disasters exacerbated by climate change. A network of scientists from World Weather Attribution reported that nearly all major disasters studied over the past year were worsened by greenhouse gas emissions.
The deadly impact of heatwaves was starkly illustrated in June, when over 1,200 pilgrims lost their lives in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, with temperatures soaring to 51.8°C. The extreme heat, termed the “silent killer,” affected regions including Thailand, India, and the USA.
In Mexico, the heat was so intense that howler monkeys fell dead from trees, while in Pakistan, millions of children stayed home as temperatures exceeded 50°C. Warmer ocean waters led to increased evaporation, resulting in torrential rains. In April, the UAE experienced two years' worth of rainfall in a single day, causing severe flooding.
Overall, the warm ocean surface has bolstered the strength of tropical cyclones, leading to extensive damage across the Caribbean and the USA. The cyclone Sinto, which devastated Mayotte, would have been less powerful without climate change, according to preliminary reports.
This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for comprehensive climate action.