The impact of climate change became more evident in 2024, with extreme weather events disrupting lives worldwide. From record-breaking heat to devastating typhoons and droughts, billions faced the harsh realities of a warming planet. This year, which is on track to be the hottest on record, also brought an additional 41 days of dangerous heat due to climate change, according to researchers at the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group and Climate Central.

Heatwaves Scorch Billions

2024 was a year dominated by heatwaves, breaking temperature records on land and in the sea.

Global Impact of Extreme Heat

• Widespread Suffering: Countries from Lebanon to Cambodia faced prolonged heatwaves, increasing the risks of dehydration and heat stroke.
• Vulnerable Populations: Young children, elderly individuals, and those in conflict zones were disproportionately affected, often due to inadequate shelter and disrupted water systems.

Researchers estimate that, compared to a world without climate change, people experienced an additional 41 days of dangerous heat in 2024. Dr. Friederike Otto of WWA highlighted that “the impacts of fossil fuel warming have never been clearer or more devastating.”

Amazon Under Threat

El Niño and Climate Change

The Amazon region faced a deadly combination of a regional heatwave and reduced rainfall, exacerbated by the natural El Niño phenomenon. However, climate change remained the dominant factor:

• Reduced Amazon River Levels: Water levels dropped by 90%, affecting power supply, crop yields, and causing wildfires.
• Human and Ecosystem Impact: Nearly 500,000 children in Brazil and Colombia were affected as schools closed due to a lack of drinking water.
• Global Consequences: Dr. Regina Rodrigues warned that climate change risks pushing the Amazon rainforest to an irreversible, drier state, endangering biodiversity and its role as a carbon sink.

Philippines Faces Unprecedented Typhoons

The Philippines endured a historic typhoon season, with six typhoons striking in just 30 days during October and November. Landslides and floods across Southeast Asia claimed over 1,200 lives.

Climate Change and Storms

While climate change may not increase the number of storms, it likely intensifies their severity. Record ocean temperatures, enhanced by climate change, contributed to this year’s devastating typhoons.

Dr. Zach Zobel of the Woodwell Climate Research Centre noted, “Scientists have been warning about these extreme events for years.”

Hurricanes Devastate the U.S.

The U.S. was hit by two powerful hurricanes, Helene and Milton, leaving 260 dead and causing $115 billion in damages. Elevated ocean temperatures in the Atlantic fueled these storms.

Category Five Hurricane Beryl

Beryl became the Atlantic’s earliest Category 5 hurricane on July 2, underscoring the unprecedented nature of this year’s hurricane season. Dr. Otto explained that the extreme heat in the upper ocean contributed to the persistence of storm activity.

Flooding Wreaks Havoc in Nigeria, Chad, and Sudan

Sudan and Nigeria experienced catastrophic flooding starting in July, triggered by heavy rains that led to dam collapses:

• Deaths and Displacement: Dozens died, and thousands were forced to flee their homes.
• Human-Caused Warming: Researchers linked the heavy rainfall to human-induced climate change, estimating such events will now occur every three to 10 years.

Call for Preparedness and Action

Julie Arrighi of the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre emphasized the need for urgent action:
“We are not well prepared for life at 1.3-1.5°C of warming. Enhancing preparedness for extreme weather is critical to reducing loss of life and damages.”

As 2024 closes, the year serves as a stark reminder of the escalating challenges posed by climate change. Immediate global action is essential to mitigate its impacts and adapt to the “dangerous new era” we are living in.

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The past year broke records as the hottest in history. Oceans boiled, glaciers melted at alarming rates, and scientists were left puzzled about the speed of the temperature rise. While greenhouse gas emissions and the natural El Niño phenomenon were known contributors, they didn’t fully account for the extraordinary heat.

A new study published in the journal Science has identified a critical missing piece: clouds—or rather, the lack of them.

The Role of Clouds in Earth’s Climate

The study reveals that a significant drop in low-lying clouds over the oceans has accelerated global warming. These clouds reflect sunlight back into space, helping to cool the planet. Without them, more sunlight is absorbed, intensifying the heating effect.

In simple terms, fewer low clouds mean the planet has “darkened,” absorbing more solar energy, according to Helge Goessling, a climate physicist at Germany’s Alfred Wegener Institute and one of the study’s authors.

This phenomenon is linked to albedo—the ability of Earth’s surfaces to reflect sunlight. Since the 1970s, Earth’s albedo has been declining due to melting ice and snow, which expose darker surfaces like land and ocean that absorb more heat. The reduction in low clouds compounds this effect, driving temperatures even higher.

Alarming Decline in Low Clouds

Using NASA satellite data, weather records, and climate models, the researchers found that low cloud cover hit record lows last year, especially over the North Atlantic Ocean. This decline aligns with a decade-long trend, suggesting a troubling pattern.

However, the exact causes remain unclear. “This is such a complex beast and so hard to disentangle,” Goessling said, pointing to several possible factors:

1. Reduced Shipping Pollution: New regulations have reduced sulfur emissions from ships, a positive step for health but one that inadvertently reduces cloud brightness and cooling effects.
2. Natural Climate Variations: Changing ocean patterns could also be playing a role.
3. Global Warming: The most concerning factor is the planet’s rising temperature. Low-level clouds thrive in cool, moist conditions. As surface temperatures increase, these clouds thin or disappear, creating a feedback loop that accelerates warming.

The Bigger Picture: More Intense Warming Ahead?

If global warming is indeed driving the decline in cloud cover, future temperature projections may be underestimated. “We should expect rather intense warming in the future,” Goessling warned.

Mark Zalinka, an atmospheric scientist at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, likened clouds to Earth’s “sunscreen.” Even small changes in cloud cover can significantly impact the planet’s albedo.

Tapio Schneider, a climate scientist at Caltech, emphasized the gravity of the findings. If global warming is substantially reducing cloud cover, we could face stronger and faster warming than previously predicted.

Why Clouds Are Crucial to Climate Science

Despite their apparent simplicity, clouds are among the most complex and least understood elements of climate systems. They remain, as Goessling describes, “one of the biggest headaches” in climate science.

Understanding how clouds respond to global warming is critical. “It literally determines how much future warming is in store,” Zalinka said.

This research underscores the urgent need for better climate modeling and action. If we are already underestimating the pace of warming, the time to act is now.

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