The latest report from World Weather Attribution in partnership with Climate Central confirms that extreme weather events are no longer distant threats—they are present-day realities, reshaping communities, economies, and ecosystems worldwide. From record-breaking downpours to devastating droughts, 2024 underscored the urgent need for action to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Flooding
Record-breaking global temperatures in 2024 translated to unprecedented downpours across continents, impacting regions from Kathmandu to Dubai and Rio Grande do Sul to the Southern Appalachians. Of the 16 flooding events studied, 15 were found to have a clear or probable climate change link, with only one—encompassing Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran—remaining inconclusive due to poor climate model performance.
The underlying physics is clear: a warmer atmosphere holds about 9% more moisture per 1.3°C of warming, as predicted by the Clausius-Clapeyron relation. This increased moisture, combined with warmer oceans and higher evaporation rates, has led to more frequent and intense rainfall events.
In Central Europe, early warning systems demonstrated the critical role of preparedness in saving lives. Advanced warnings allowed evacuations, reservoir adjustments, and flood defense activations, reducing fatalities to fewer than 30 despite record rainfall. In stark contrast, floods in Sudan, Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad—where early warning systems were lacking—claimed at least 170 lives and displaced millions.
Hurricane Helene brought catastrophic flooding to the Southern Appalachians, killing over 227 people despite warnings of "catastrophic and life-threatening" rainfall. These events reveal that no region is safe from climate change, with even so-called “climate havens” being vulnerable.
The challenges extend to flood defenses, as the aging infrastructure struggles to cope with unprecedented rainfall. The collapse of dams in Libya (2023) and Sudan (2024) highlighted the dire consequences of underinvestment in maintenance. In the United States, over 20% of dams are rated in poor condition, emphasizing the global nature of this crisis. Flood defences need to be repaired, maintained and upgraded to cope with heavy rainfall of the future climate.
Drought
As floods ravaged some areas, other regions endured crippling droughts. Droughts in 2024 affected every continent, leading to water rationing, agricultural losses, biodiversity threats, and the displacement of millions. Rising temperatures exacerbate droughts by increasing water loss through evaporation and plant transpiration (evapotranspiration) (evaporation); a compounding factor highlighted in attribution studies.
In Italy, droughts in Sicily and Sardinia led to severe water shortages and wheat crop failures, with climate change increasing the likelihood of such events by 50%. Similarly, the Amazon River Basin experienced prolonged drought, endangering one of the planet’s most critical carbon sinks. A recent study warned that without halting deforestation, half of the Amazon rainforest could reach a tipping point by 2050, accelerating global warming and biodiversity loss.
The impact on agriculture is especially dire, with subsistence farmers in developing nations often hit hardest. In southern Africa, drought left 20 million people facing food insecurity earlier this year. These events illustrate how climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, compounding humanitarian crises.
A year of extreme contrasts
The juxtaposition of floods and droughts in 2024 highlights the dual-edged sword of climate change. Intense heatwaves drove evaporation in some areas while fueling torrential rains in others, underscoring global inequities in climate resilience. The report confirmed that while El Niño influenced some events, human-induced climate change played a dominant role.
Resolutions for 2025
- Fossil fuel use remains the primary driver of global warming. Rapid adoption of renewable energy is essential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and curb the frequency of extreme weather events.
- Enhance early warning systems
Timely and targeted early warning systems are proven lifesavers, as demonstrated in Central Europe. Investment in such systems, particularly in vulnerable regions, can prevent thousands of deaths annually. - Improve flood defenses
Aging and inadequate flood defenses must be repaired, maintained, and upgraded to withstand the new realities of extreme rainfall. This effort is crucial for both developed and developing nations. - Increase financial support for developing nations
Vulnerable countries disproportionately bear the brunt of extreme weather while contributing minimally to global emissions. Climate finance is vital to support infrastructure, adaptation measures, and disaster response capabilities. - Address heat-related fatalities
Heatwaves remain underreported despite being the deadliest form of extreme weather. Real-time reporting and public awareness campaigns can help communities better prepare for and respond to heat risks.
The events of 2024 reveal the devastating toll of inaction. From the flooded streets of Rio Grande do Sul to the parched fields of southern Africa, the message is clear: the world must act swiftly and decisively. Resilience efforts, coupled with a shift toward sustainability, will determine whether we can mitigate the worst impacts of climate change.
