In 2024, the world experienced more than 150 unprecedented disasters caused by climate change

The devastating impacts of the climate crisis reached new heights in 2024. Floods, extreme heat and powerful hurricanes occurred amid the highest temperatures ever experienced by humanity, reports Guardian.

The UN World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) report for 2024, the hottest year on record, describes a devastating trail of extreme weather.

The disasters have claimed lives, destroyed buildings and ruined vital crops. More than 800 people have been displaced and left homeless, the highest annual toll since records began in 000.

Disaster after disaster

The report listed 151 unprecedented extreme weather events in 2024, meaning they were worse than ever recorded in the region. Waves hotplates in Japan resulted in hundreds of thousands of people suffering from heatstroke. The sharp rise in temperatures during heatwaves peaked at 49,9°C in Carnarvon, Western Australia, 49,7°C in Tabas, Iran, and 48,5°C during a nationwide heatwave in Mali.

Record rains in Italy have caused floods, landslides and power outages. Torrential rains have destroyed thousands of homes in Senegal. Flash floods in Pakistan and Brazil have caused severe crop losses.

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Storms were amplified by global warming in 2024. An unprecedented six typhoons hit the Philippines in less than a month. Hurricane Helen, the strongest ever recorded, hit the Big Bend region of Florida, USA. Vietnam was hit by Super Typhoon Yagi, affecting 3,6 million people.

climate crisis

The world is already deeply mired in a climate crisis. The WMO report says that for the first time, the 10 hottest years on record have all occurred in the last decade. But global carbon emissions continue to rise. This will lead to even more serious the consequences.

Experts have particularly criticized US President Donald Trump for ignoring these problems, firing climate scientists and shutting down climate programs. According to experts, ignoring reality has led to ordinary people paying the price.

"Leaders must step up with new national climate plans and take advantage of cheap, clean, renewable energy for their economies," said UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

“Every year we move further into uncharted territory. 2024 was the hottest year ever experienced by modern human society, but the next decade is expected to be even hotter,” warned Dr Luke Parsons of the Nature Conservancy.

Previous research has found that at least 550 heatwaves, floods, storms, droughts and wildfires have become significantly more severe or more frequent due to global warming.

Is money more important than lives?

Of course, every average person has heard about global warming and climate problems, seen street demonstrations and protests of people who are concerned about these problems. It is difficult to realize how this can directly affect you until it is too late.

The Trump administration has laid off 1300 employees of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, one of the world’s leading weather and climate watchers. Another 1000 are at risk of being laid off. Experts estimate that every dollar spent on climate resilience saves $13 in damage and cleanup costs.

Dr Brenda Ekwurzel of the Union of Concerned Scientists has condemned the Trump administration's removal of climate information from the internet.

“Attempts to hide climate science from the public will not prevent us from experiencing the dire consequences of climate change,” she said. “This report highlights the need for world leaders to respond urgently, without cutting environmental protections and federal disaster aid, without sacrificing public health for private fossil fuel profits, and without destroying the agencies that help shape the scientific basis of our global climate knowledge.”

"Global warming continues unabated, as predicted since the 1980s. Millions of people are increasingly suffering from the consequences," said Professor Stefan Rahmstorf of the Potsdam Climate Institute in Germany. "We can only stop the warming trend if we quickly abandon fossil fuels."

“We have solutions, but we are being held back by disinformation campaigns and the lobbying power of the fossil fuel industry,” Rahmstorf said. “Ignoring reality, denying the laws of physics, and silencing scientists can only lead to harm. Ordinary people will pay the price.”

“Every fraction of a degree matters. The choices we make today will determine the severity of the impacts of climate change in the coming years,” said Dr. Davide Faranda of ClimaMeter.

WMO Secretary-General Professor Celeste Saulo concluded that the report was a wake-up call about the growing risks to lives and livelihoods.

“In response, WMO and the global community are stepping up efforts to strengthen early warning systems and climate services to help societies become more resilient to extreme weather,” she said. “Only half of all countries have adequate early warning systems – this must change.”

Professor Celeste Saulo concluded that investment in weather, water and climate services is more important today than ever.