Climate change fuelled extreme weather is expected to reach dangerous new levels in 2025, underscoring the need for investment in climate change adaptation and climate resilience. Relentless heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, storms and floods claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions from their homes, according to World Weather Attribution (WWA) and Climate Central’s annual report.
These devastating climate impacts coincide with the confirmation that carbon dioxide levels rose last year at the fastest rate ever recorded, with total greenhouse gas emissions hitting the highest levels ever recorded in the atmosphere. Extreme weather records will continue to be broken on this current trajectory of rising emissions. Meanwhile, communities on the front lines continue to be burdened by the harsh impacts and climate related risks. To mitigate climate change, building climate resilience is essential.
2024: A Year Defined by Extreme Heat
The report outlines that in 2024, the average person experienced 41 additional days of dangerous heat added by climate change. On July 21, 2024, 5.3 billion people were exposed to temperatures made at least twice as likely due to global warming, and the following day, July 22, surpassed it as the hottest day recorded on Earth. “Nearly every event we studied in 2024 was made more intense and more frequent because of our continued burning of fossil fuels,” said Dr. Friederike Otto from WWA.
Asia has become a focal point for the escalating impacts of climate change, with communities across the continent grappling with unprecedented heatwaves and extreme weather. A report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed that Asia’s average temperature in 2024 was 2.17°C above the historical average, marking the second-warmest year on record. India experienced its hottest year since records began, and for Japan the year was the hottest since 1898.
In April and May, parts of India and Pakistan endured relentless climate change fuelled heatwaves, with temperatures exceeding 48°C, straining water supplies and causing many fatalities. These severe events exposed the growing dangers of worsening heatwaves, often referred to as “silent killers”, due to their devastating impact on human health without the visible destruction of storms or floods. This means the danger of extreme temperatures is often underreported, says WWA.
The Unequal Burden of Climate Change
While the climate crisis affects all of us, its impacts are not evenly distributed. Asia’s large and densely populated regions make its local communities particularly vulnerable, and the continent is the world’s most disaster-hit region from weather and climate hazards.
The consequences of these extremes are often felt most harshly by those least equipped to adapt. WWA’s research outlined how Asia’s extreme heatwaves last year imperiled people living in refugee camps and informal housing, where heat adds pressure to existing challenges, such as water and medicine shortages and poor living conditions. Hundreds of millions of outdoor workers – such as farmers, construction workers, and outdoor vendors – also suffer disproportionately in harm to their livelihoods and health.
Clean Energy Is the Most Powerful Climate Solution
Shifting away from fossil fuels and rapidly deploying clean energy solutions is the most effective way to halt dangerous climate change. Despite agreements like the one reached at COP28 to transition away from oil, gas and coal, new fossil fuel projects continue to be approved worldwide. Dr. Otto emphasises the urgency of moving faster: “New Year’s resolution number one is a faster move away from fossil fuels if we want to avoid ever more extreme events that reach the limits of what societies can adapt to.” Clean energy is cheaper, more reliable and dramatically less polluting than fossil fuels, meaning this shift will help make the world a safer, healthier and wealthier place.
Investing in Climate Adaptation and Resilience
Investing in climate resilience and adaptation is also critical to protect lives and livelihoods, particularly for developing nations, which are responsible for just a small amount of historic carbon emissions, but are hit the hardest. WWA highlights that unrelenting disasters are cancelling out developmental gains and forcing governments to reach deeper into their pockets to respond and recover from extreme weather. Meanwhile, people are already dying in large numbers – often avoidably – from climate change from the warming we already have. Yet, extreme weather events are expected to increase and intensify in the year ahead. Dr. Otto said, “It is clear that the most vulnerable are disproportionately affected by extreme weather events, as they lack the resources and systems to protect themselves.” Building climate resilience, addressing climate change and promoting sustainable development requires creating more equitable societies with robust social services, which will protect lives and livelihoods and create a stabler, safer world.
Evelyn Smail
Writer, United Kingdom
Evelyn is a freelance writer and journalist specialising in climate science and policy, the just energy transition and the human impacts of climate change. She writes for independent publications, NGOs and environmental organisations. Evelyn has a background in sustainable development, climate justice and human rights.
Evelyn is a freelance writer and journalist specialising in climate science and policy, the just energy transition and the human impacts of climate change. She writes for independent publications, NGOs and environmental organisations. Evelyn has a background in sustainable development, climate justice and human rights.
