The escalating climate crisis has led to unprecedented floods and droughts, profoundly impacting millions worldwide. In 2023, Asia emerged as the region most affected by climate-related disasters, with 79 hydrometeorological events resulting in over 2,000 deaths and directly affecting 9 million people. The World Meteorological Organization reported that the continent experienced record-breaking heat and unprecedented sea surface temperatures in the northwest Pacific. (lemonde.fr)
In East Africa, catastrophic rains between March and May 2024 were intensified by climate change and rapid urbanization. The World Weather Attribution Group’s study revealed that climate change doubled the likelihood of such devastating rains and increased their intensity by 5%. These floods resulted in hundreds of fatalities, displaced thousands, and destroyed extensive agricultural areas. The rapid urbanization in densely populated cities exacerbated the risk of flooding, highlighting deficiencies in urban planning. (apnews.com)
In Europe, the United Kingdom and Ireland have witnessed a rise in heavy storms and prolonged rainfall during winters. A study by the World Weather Attribution group indicated that global warming has increased the intensity of winter rains by 20% between October and March. The winter of 2023-2024 was the second wettest on record in the UK and the third in Ireland, with a 15% increase in total precipitation due to climate change. These extreme conditions have significantly impacted agriculture, with losses estimated at nearly one billion pounds for farmers, and caused deadly floods, transportation disruptions, and power outages. (ft.com)
The Financial Stability Board (FSB) has warned that climate change-induced disasters, such as floods, droughts, and fires, pose a significant threat to financial markets by triggering panics and reducing investor confidence. Following a breach of 1.5°C warming above pre-industrial levels last year, further environmental catastrophes are likely. The FSB highlights that such events could lead banks to reduce lending, which would hurt recovery efforts for vulnerable households and businesses. Additionally, the reassessment of climate-physical risk would impact sectors not usually affected by these disasters. The report suggests an analytical framework for regulators to better evaluate climate-related vulnerabilities, with calls from various global and EU authorities for enhanced measures to fill gaps in insurance coverage particularly highlighted. (ft.com)
In Spain, devastating floods in the Valencia region have resulted in over 200 deaths and widespread destruction, including mud torrents, piled-up cars, destroyed homes, and shattered lives. These events are intensifying due to climate change, as warned by the IPCC, and are aggravated by urbanization in flood-prone areas and increasing soil impermeabilization. Despite repeated disasters in Europe and the U.S., society continues to move from initial shock to forgetfulness, without implementing effective changes.
The politicization of environmentalism and misinformation are hindering coherent policies to address these challenges. In Spain, the new Valencian government, dominated by the far-right and climate-skeptical, has been criticized for its delayed handling of the alert. In France, key funds for climate adaptation are being cut, further complicating the effective response. Meanwhile, the lack of consensus and political polarization hinder the implementation of comprehensive and sustained solutions. It is urgent to break this cycle of amnesia and shocks and seek approaches that highlight varied benefits for health, safety, and sovereignty in addressing climate change. (lemonde.fr)
The accelerating water cycle due to climate change is triggering more extreme weather events. The increase in temperatures from burning fossil fuels intensifies both droughts and precipitation. A warmer climate causes the atmosphere to absorb more water vapor, leading to longer and more severe droughts. When it rains, extreme conditions result in destructive downpours. Oceans play a crucial role by absorbing additional heat, raising sea levels, and fueling more intense hurricanes. For example, Storm Daniel in 2023 caused catastrophic flooding in Libya. Additionally, climate change affects the snowpack, crucial for drinking water and agriculture. The reduced snowfall and its rapid absorption by the land exacerbate these problems. Human actions are the primary cause, and this process can still be halted if appropriate measures are taken. (apnews.com)
The escalating climate crisis has led to unprecedented floods and droughts, profoundly impacting millions worldwide. In 2023, Asia emerged as the region most affected by climate-related disasters, with 79 hydrometeorological events resulting in over 2,000 deaths and directly affecting 9 million people. The World Meteorological Organization reported that the continent experienced record-breaking heat and unprecedented sea surface temperatures in the northwest Pacific. (lemonde.fr)
In East Africa, catastrophic rains between March and May 2024 were intensified by climate change and rapid urbanization. The World Weather Attribution Group’s study revealed that climate change doubled the likelihood of such devastating rains and increased their intensity by 5%. These floods resulted in hundreds of fatalities, displaced thousands, and destroyed extensive agricultural areas. The rapid urbanization in densely populated cities exacerbated the risk of flooding, highlighting deficiencies in urban planning. (apnews.com)
In Europe, the United Kingdom and Ireland have witnessed a rise in heavy storms and prolonged rainfall during winters. A study by the World Weather Attribution group indicated that global warming has increased the intensity of winter rains by 20% between October and March. The winter of 2023-2024 was the second wettest on record in the UK and the third in Ireland, with a 15% increase in total precipitation due to climate change. These extreme conditions have significantly impacted agriculture, with losses estimated at nearly one billion pounds for farmers, and caused deadly floods, transportation disruptions, and power outages. (ft.com)
The Financial Stability Board (FSB) has warned that climate change-induced disasters, such as floods, droughts, and fires, pose a significant threat to financial markets by triggering panics and reducing investor confidence. Following a breach of 1.5°C warming above pre-industrial levels last year, further environmental catastrophes are likely. The FSB highlights that such events could lead banks to reduce lending, which would hurt recovery efforts for vulnerable households and businesses. Additionally, the reassessment of climate-physical risk would impact sectors not usually affected by these disasters. The report suggests an analytical framework for regulators to better evaluate climate-related vulnerabilities, with calls from various global and EU authorities for enhanced measures to fill gaps in insurance coverage particularly highlighted. (ft.com)
In Spain, devastating floods in the Valencia region have resulted in over 200 deaths and widespread destruction, including mud torrents, piled-up cars, destroyed homes, and shattered lives. These events are intensifying due to climate change, as warned by the IPCC, and are aggravated by urbanization in flood-prone areas and increasing soil impermeabilization. Despite repeated disasters in Europe and the U.S., society continues to move from initial shock to forgetfulness, without implementing effective changes. The politicization of environmentalism and misinformation are hindering coherent policies to address these challenges. In Spain, the new Valencian government, dominated by the far-right and climate-skeptical, has been criticized for its delayed handling of the alert. In France, key funds for climate adaptation are being cut, further complicating the effective response. Meanwhile, the lack of consensus and political polarization hinder the implementation of comprehensive and sustained solutions. It is urgent to break this cycle of amnesia and shocks and seek approaches that highlight varied benefits for health, safety, and sovereignty in addressing climate change. (lemonde.fr)
The accelerating water cycle due to climate change is triggering more extreme weather events. The increase in temperatures from burning fossil fuels intensifies both droughts and precipitation. A warmer climate causes the atmosphere to absorb more water vapor, leading to longer and more severe droughts. When it rains, extreme conditions result in destructive downpours. Oceans play a crucial role by absorbing additional heat, raising sea levels, and fueling more intense hurricanes. For example, Storm Daniel in 2023 caused catastrophic flooding in Libya. Additionally, climate change affects the snowpack, crucial for drinking water and agriculture. The reduced snowfall and its rapid absorption by the land exacerbate these problems. Human actions are the primary cause, and this process can still be halted if appropriate measures are taken. (apnews.com)
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