Paris: The year 2024, marked as the hottest in recorded history, witnessed an unprecedented surge in climate-related disasters across the globe. Rising atmospheric and ocean temperatures, driven by global warming, acted as fuel for extreme weather events, causing widespread devastation from impoverished regions to wealthy nations.

The impacts of extreme heat were particularly severe. In June, over 1,300 people perished during the Muslim hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, where temperatures soared to an unbearable 51.8°C (125°F). Similar heatwaves caused fatalities in Thailand, India, and the United States. In Pakistan, schools were forced to close as temperatures crossed 50°C. Meanwhile, Greece recorded its earliest heatwave, which not only disrupted daily life but also fueled wildfires during what became Europe’s hottest summer on record.

Flooding wreaked havoc in multiple regions, with warmer oceans and moisture-laden air intensifying rainfall. In April, the United Arab Emirates experienced two years' worth of rain in a single day, turning parts of the desert into lakes and disrupting operations at Dubai’s international airport. Kenya faced a dual disaster, transitioning from a once-in-a-generation drought to its worst floods in decades. Across West and Central Africa, floods killed 1,500 people and left 4 million in urgent need of aid. Similar catastrophic flooding was reported in countries including Afghanistan, Nepal, Russia, Brazil, and the United States.

Tropical cyclones gained strength due to warmer ocean surfaces, bringing destructive winds and torrential rains. Hurricanes Milton, Beryl, and Helene caused extensive damage across the U.S. and the Caribbean. Southeast Asia suffered repeated blows, with the Philippines enduring six major storms in November alone. In December, Cyclone Chino, intensified by global warming, struck Mayotte, devastating France’s poorest overseas territory.

Droughts and wildfires added to the global crisis. Prolonged dry spells parched regions worldwide, particularly in the Americas. Wildfires burned millions of hectares in the western United States, Canada, and even the Amazon, a region typically known for its lush, wet ecosystem. Between January and September, South America recorded over 400,000 fires, enveloping the continent in thick, choking smoke. Southern Africa faced a severe drought that put 26 million people at risk of hunger.

The economic toll of these disasters was staggering. According to Swiss Re, global losses in 2024 amounted to $310 billion, driven largely by hurricanes and flooding in Spain’s Valencia province, where over 200 people died. In the U.S., 24 weather-related events each caused damages exceeding $1 billion. Brazil’s farming sector suffered losses of $2.7 billion due to drought, and global wine production hit its lowest level since 1961, underscoring the far-reaching impacts of climatic changes.

World Weather Attribution (WWA) underscored the role of climate change in these disasters. Nearly every major event analyzed by the organization this year was intensified by global warming. “The impacts of fossil fuel warming have never been clearer or more devastating than in 2024. We are living in a dangerous new era,” said Friederike Otto, a leading WWA scientist.

As the frequency and intensity of climate disasters escalate, the urgency for collective global action to mitigate the effects of climate change has never been more critical.