You might heard, about the recent news of the Los Angeles fire and thousands of acres of burning places causing a huge impact on the economy of the US. Another extreme weather event that can be taken into account was the devasting floods in Pakistan, Afghanistan and even Dubai causing significant damage to the people and economy of the country. So, the question arises here, Are all these events human-induced? Or Earth is giving warning to us about the intensity of the climate change crisis?
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report has recently published some interesting facts about human-induced climate change and its role in extreme weather events. The report highlights that from record-breaking heatwaves to unprecedented rainfall and floods are happening because of extreme climate change. It creates an urgency globally that is undeniable.
What is human-induced climate change?
Let’s understand it in some simple words. Technological advancement and modernization are associated with the increased use of fossil fuels like oil, coal and natural gasses increasing the release of greenhouse gases in the environment. As fast as these gases are released into the environment they will trap heat from the sun and the temperature of our Earth will increase gradually and cause different extreme weather events like heatwaves, floods, droughts etc.
The scariest thing for us as a human being is that climate change is not a distant possibility; it is happening right now and the extreme weather events from worldwide are the proof of that. The Sixth Assessment Report of IPCC has also given proof that human activities like deforestation, industrialization and so on have been increasing greenhouse gas emissions and changing weather patterns.
The rising temperatures of 40°C and even 50°C have become common in many parts of the world. Changing weather patterns are also creating some bad weather conditions Africa, Europe, Asia, and North and South America have faced deadly flooding in the last few years because of increasing greenhouse gases in the environment.
The rising use of fossil fuels by humans has been contributing highly to extreme climate change. In 2021, North America recorded an all-time high temperature of 49°C due to the burning of fossil fuels. California has been burning because of continuous dry weather conditions and these events are frequent. In 2020 it lost around 4 million acres of land due to devasting wildfire and in 2024, the damage ratio increased.
The growing threats of heatwaves
In 2024, throughout April and May, extreme heatwaves devastatingly affected the Asian continent. Above 40°C temperature was recorded in Israel, Syria, Lebanon, Myanmar, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam which affects the normal living of people.
Around 1.4 million displaced people got worsened conditions due to heatwave pressure in Gaza. In refugee camps and conflict zones, people were suffering from water shortages, lack of medicines and poor living conditions.
In South and Southeast Asia, a number of schools were closed down due to extreme heatwaves. It is increasing the mortality rate and disrupting the daily lives of people. Some great examples of extreme weather conditions in this century can be highlighted the heatwave in Europe in 2003 and the heatwave in Russia in 2010. Where the European heatwave caused around 70,000 deaths, in contrast, around 55,000 people lost their lives in Russia due to the heatwaves.
Limiting global warming by at least 1.5°C to 2°C is crucial to reduce the growing threat of heatwaves. As per IPCC, reducing the temperature can help to protect around 420 million people lives who can lose their lives due to extreme heatwaves.
Growing concerns about water cycle disruptions
You can imagine the water cycle as a circular cycle of evaporation, condensation and precipitation. We can understand it simply by referring to it as the continuous movement of water within the Earth and the atmosphere. Water plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecosystem of the Earth.
However, nowadays, we are exposed to several news of flooding, droughts and so on. So, is it because of the disruptions of the water cycle and its continuity? Well, yes. You might know that a warming environment holds more moisture than a cold environment. When the moisture intensifies extreme weather events like heavy rainfall happen which is not normal for a natural water cycle.
The deadliest flood of the century happened in Libya in 2023. The Tropical Storm Daniel caused the flood that collapsed two dams and destroyed thousands of houses, roads, hospitals and power lines. So, is it human-induced? Well, we know that these are natural phenomena. However, the frequency and intensity of these natural phenomena are being influenced by human-induced climate change.
Not only the rising temperature but also the poor infrastructure planning, poor urban development and so on has also been contributed to the damages that happened in Libya. All these events have highlighted the urgency of focusing on the limitation of greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, unplanned urbanization and so on.
The urgency for taking action
IPCC has mentioned that every fraction of the degree matters. If we can limit the temperature rise by at least 1.5°C, instead of 2°C, we can save millions of people’s lives. Even doing this can limit the frequency of deadly floods, heatwaves and the recent conditions in Los Angeles.
Every country should adopt a heat-health early warning system during heatwave conditions. Through this system, the upcoming extreme weather events like heatwaves can measured and the high-risk people areas can be analysed on an early basis to provide them with preventive measures like the right hydration, avoiding outdoor activities during peak heat and so on. In Europe, it was taken after the losses of 77,000 people, but for other countries, this may save the lives of a lot of people.
The flood-exposed countries like South and Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, North and South America and so on should have to focus on their urban planning to be saved from the devasting impact of the floods. The drainage systems need to be improved to handle the heavy rainfalls. Planning to build resilient houses can save houses from extreme flood conditions that are located in flood-prone regions.
However, collective actions are also required to be adopted to prevent these extreme weather events. The first thing to address climate change will be the reduction of carbon emissions. Several majors have been taken and one of the significant measures has been noted to be the 17 sustainable goals taken by the UN. Several businesses and communities have participated in this goal to bring collective changes to save the environment and save the human race.
Planting more and more trees and adopting sustainable urban planning can minimize carbon emissions. At the community level, we can plant trees, save water and participate in disaster readiness programs. At the government level, introducing stricter rules, promoting sustainable approaches like renewable energy use, EV adoption and so on and minimizing waste through recyclable materials can be a great contributor to saving our environment and saving millions of lives.
FAQ
1. What is human-induced climate change?
Technological advancement and increased use of fossil fuels have released greenhouse gases, trapping heat and raising temperatures, leading to extreme weather events.
2. What extreme weather events are linked to climate change?
Heatwaves, floods, and droughts in Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas are becoming more common due to rising greenhouse gases.
3. What did the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report reveal about climate change?
The Sixth Assessment Report of IPCC has also given proof that human activities like deforestation, industrialization and so on have been increasing greenhouse gas emissions and changing weather patterns.
4. How have heatwaves affected different regions in recent years?
In 2024, extreme heatwaves affected Asia, with temperatures above 40°C recorded in Israel, Syria, Lebanon, Myanmar, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam, displacing 1.4 million people in Gaza.
5. How can heat-health early warning systems reduce the impact of heatwaves?
Every country should adopt a heat-health early warning system during heatwave conditions. Through this system, the upcoming extreme weather events like heatwaves can be measured and the high-risk people areas can be analysed on an early basis to provide them with preventive measures like the right hydration, avoiding outdoor activities during peak heat and so on.
6. Why is limiting global warming by 1.5°C to 2°C important?
Limiting global warming by at least 1.5°C to 2°C is crucial to reduce the growing threat of heatwaves. As per IPCC, reducing the temperature can help to protect around 420 million people’s lives who can lose their lives due to extreme heatwaves.
7. What are some examples of human activities contributing to extreme weather events?
The Sixth Assessment Report of IPCC has also given proof that human activities like deforestation, industrialization and so on have been increasing greenhouse gas emissions and changing weather patterns. The rising use of fossil fuels by humans has been contributing highly to extreme climate change.
