Global warming will make its impact felt worldwide in 2024 more harshly than ever before. According to the World Weather Attribution (WWA) report, 2024 is on track to become the hottest year on record. The increase, which reached up to 1.54 degrees compared to pre-industrial temperatures, manifested itself not only in thermometers but also in the intensity of extreme weather events around the world. These developments once again revealed the serious consequences of climate change on human life.
The WWA report examined the weather events experienced in 2024 and recorded 219 extreme weather events in accordance with “critical trigger criteria”. In most of these events, the effects of the natural climate cycle El Niño were felt. However, the report found that climate change plays a larger role than El Niño in most such events. The historical drought, especially in the Amazon region, attracted attention as one of the most striking examples of this situation.
One of the most noticeable impacts of this year has been the increase in the number of dangerously hot days. While it was determined that an average of 41 additional hot days were experienced, this increased the deaths caused by heat waves worldwide. In parallel, floods that occurred as a result of more humid atmospheres causing heavy rainfall were also included in the report. Only one of the 16 flood events examined could not be attributed to climate change.
Destruction on critical ecosystems
Two important ecosystems around the world were exposed to the devastating effects of climate change in 2024. The Amazon rainforest and the Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland, have suffered major biodiversity loss due to severe droughts and wildfires. The Amazon plays a critical role in maintaining global climate balance by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and helping regulate ocean currents. On the other hand, the Pantanal provides flood control in the region and is also home to tens of thousands of living species.
The negative effects on these two regions were not limited to environmental damage only. It also put serious pressure on local economies. For example, fires in the Pantanal negatively affected agricultural and livestock activities in the region, weakening the global economic chain. Experts emphasize that such events should be considered not only as a biological threat but also as an economic threat.
WWA’s report proposed a number of solutions for 2025 to reduce future risks. The main suggestions include rapidly moving away from the use of fossil fuels, developing early warning systems and providing financing for regions suffering from climate change. Infrastructure deficiencies and financial inadequacies, especially in developing countries, further increase the vulnerability of these regions to the climate crisis. In this context, international cooperation and resource sharing are of vital importance for the coming years.
Climate change is now considered not only an environmental problem but also a crisis that threatens global security and quality of life. As a result, 2024 has become a critical turning point in humanity’s fight against climate change, with more severe and frequent weather events. Scientists state that stopping this trend can only be possible with quick and determined steps.