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Continuous heatwaves have added to the challenges faced by nearly two million people displaced by the conflict in Gaza
The impact of climate change has led to record-breaking heat this year, resulting in extreme weather events such as hurricanes and prolonged droughts.
2024 is projected to be the hottest year on record, with new research indicating that global populations experienced an additional 41 days of dangerous heat due to climate change.
A study by researchers from the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group at Imperial College and Climate Central highlights that we are entering a perilous new era.
From Brazil to Indonesia, let’s revisit the climate events that impacted billions of lives in 2024.
Billions affected by heatwave
This year was characterized by extreme heat, with temperature records being broken both on land and in the sea multiple times.
In April, numerous countries from Lebanon to Cambodia experienced prolonged heatwaves, posing risks of dehydration and heat-related illnesses.
Julie Arrighi, director of programmes at the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, emphasized that the impacts of such heatwaves are not evenly distributed.
She noted that young people, individuals over 65, and those with pre-existing health conditions are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat.
Research indicates that while populations can adapt to higher temperatures over time, the world experienced 41 additional days of dangerous heat in 2024 due to climate change.
Dr. Friederike Otto, lead of WWA and Senior Lecturer in Climate Science at Imperial College London, stated that the impacts of fossil fuel warming were devastating in 2024.
Niharika Kulkarni/AFP
In Varanasi, Northern India, some residents required hospitalization following a severe heatwave in May
Amazon’s lifeline dries up
A regional heatwave in the Amazon region exacerbated by El Niño, with climate change identified as the primary driver.
Along with higher temperatures, reduced rainfall in parts of South America led to a 90% decrease in the Amazon river levels, impacting power supply, crop yield, and causing wildfires.
Nearly half a million children were affected, with schools in Brazil and Colombia closed due to water shortages, as reported by Unicef.
The Amazon river plays a crucial role in supporting biodiversity and efforts to combat climate change.
Dr. Regina Rodrigues, a professor at the Federal University of Santa Catarina in Brazil, expressed concerns about the potential irreversible impacts of climate change on the Amazon rainforest.
She emphasized the importance of maintaining the critical processes that support life globally.
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Yagua Indigenous people from Colombia are forced to carry emergency water due to the low level of the Amazon River limiting their access to normal water sources
Philippines: unprecedented Typhoon season
While some regions face water scarcity, others are grappling with excess rainfall.
The Philippines witnessed a record six typhoons within a span of just 30 days in October and November, following six months of storms.
The country’s vulnerability to tropical storms was evident as landslides and floods caused by the typhoons claimed over 1,200 lives across Southeast Asia.
While there is no direct link between climate change and the frequency of typhoons, research suggests that it may contribute to their intensity.
The elevated ocean temperatures in 2024 were conducive to the formation of such storms, as concluded by WWA scientists.
Dr. Zach Zobel from the Woodwell Climate Research Centre supported the findings, emphasizing the long-standing warnings about the increasing frequency of extreme events.
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Typhoon Gaemi, which struck in July, displaced an estimated 600,000 individuals in the Philippines
Early Hurricane fueled by ocean temperatures
Even the wealthiest nations were unable to shield themselves from extreme weather in 2024.
The US faced back-to-back hurricanes, resulting in significant casualties and economic losses.
The elevated ocean temperatures in the Atlantic fueled hurricanes, leading to devastating impacts.
While Hurricane Beryl broke records as the earliest category five hurricane, the season witnessed a pause before Hurricane Helene struck.
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Dr. Otto sagte der BBC, dass große Stürme normalerweise Wärme aus dem Ozean entziehen können, was die Bildung neuer Hurrikane für einige Zeit verhindert, aber qualitative Beweise legen nahe, dass „weil der gesamte obere Ozean extrem heiß war, dieser Effekt nicht auftrat“.
Sie fügte hinzu, dass die WWA plant, dies in Zukunft weiter zu analysieren.
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Der Schaden an Tausenden von Häusern in Florida durch den Hurrikan Helene wurde nach dem Rückgang der Flutgewässer offenbart
Extreme Regenfälle in Nigeria, Tschad, Sudan
Überschwemmungen im Sudan und in Nigeria im August und September zeigten, dass extreme Wetterbedingungen durch schlecht gewartete Infrastruktur verschlimmert werden können.
Starke Regenfälle ab Juli führten zu umfangreichen Überschwemmungen, die zu mehreren Dammbrüchen führten, bei denen Dutzende von Menschen getötet und Tausende aus ihren Häusern vertrieben wurden.
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Mudbrick-Gebäude können Überschwemmungen standhalten, aber Wochen regen in Sudans Nördlichem Staat im Juli und August beschädigten viele Häuser
Der Bericht von WWA und Climate Central schätzt, dass diese schweren Regenfälle aufgrund menschengemachter Erwärmung zu häufigen Ereignissen geworden sind und im Durchschnitt alle drei bis zehn Jahre auftreten sollen.
Julie Arrighi vom Rotes Kreuz Roter Halbmond Klimazentrum sagte: „Unsere Studien zeigen weiterhin die Notwendigkeit, die Vorbereitung auf extremes Wetter zu verbessern, um Verluste an Menschenleben und Schäden zu reduzieren.
„Wir sind nicht gut vorbereitet auf das Leben bei 1,3-1,5°C Erwärmung.“
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