Climate change caused at least 3,700 deaths in 2024, added 41 extreme heat days threatening lives: Report

The problem of extreme weather touched dangerous heights in 2024 as the year saw record-breaking temperatures causing extreme heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, storms and floods, according to a report.

The World Weather Attribution (WWA), an international effort to study and communicate the influence of climate change, found that global warming was responsible for a concerning number of extreme weather events, resulting in the death of at least 3,700 people and the displacement of millions around the globe.

Climate change added 41 days of dangerous heat on average in 2024, the report said citing a Climate Central analysis. These days reflect the hottest 10% of temperatures observed globally between 1991 and 2020 as per reports.

2024 is on track to become the hottest year on record. The first half of the year experienced unprecedented temperatures, extending a trend that began in 2023 and has now lasted 13 months. Notably, July 22, 2024, marked the hottest day in history.

The report titled ‘When Risks Become Reality: Extreme Weather In 2024’ noted key messages for 2024, highlighting how the year panned out, and shared resolutions for the upcoming year.

Key highlights of the report

• Life has become dangerous with 1.3°C global warming fueled by human actions. Serious efforts are needed in order to do away with the planet heating fossil fuels as soon as possible.

• The 26 weather events analysed by WWA revealed that climate change cost 3,700 human lives and the displacement of millions in 2024. The numbers could be even bigger as these were just a part of the actual 219 events that met the trigger criteria used for the study.

• Human-induced climate change contributed to 41 additional days of extreme heat in 2024, threatening lives all over the world, as per an analysis by Climate Central. The countries that faced the most dangerous heat days are primarily small island nations and developing states, which are particularly vulnerable and regarded as being at the forefront of the impacts of climate change.

• While many extreme weather events were impacted by El Niño this year, WWA found that climate change played a bigger role and fueled these even further, including the historic drought in the Amazon.

• The year saw both record-breaking temperatures and record-breaking rainfalls, many followed by floods. 16 out of 15 floods studied by WWA were driven by rainfalls caused by climate change.

• Climate change severely affected the Amazon rainforest and Pantanal Wetland in 2024, both important for the world’s biodiversity.

Suggested resolutions for the upcoming year

• As per the report, these are the resolutions in 2025 that can help the situation going forward:

• A faster shift from fossil fuels is needed to control extreme weather events. Determined efforts are needed to make a quicker move towards renewable energy.

• Early warning systems can change the game. Targeted warnings ahead of dangerous events and extreme weather forecasting are needed to minimise fatalities.

• Alerting the public at the right time by real-time reporting of high temperatures can help curb deaths caused by heat.

• Financing is essential for poor countries to help them fight climate change and extreme weather conditions. Developing countries contribute the least to climate change but are impacted the most because of it. To achieve an equitable world, investment in developing nations is needed.