| Timeframe . | Climate disaster . |
|---|---|
| November 2023 | Storm Bettina over Black Sea brought heavy snowfall and rainfall to several countries along the Black Sea, affecting more than 2.5 million people and causing 23 fatalities. The burning of fossil fuels was responsible for an approximately twofold increase in the likelihood of this level of precipitation (Zachariah et al. 2024a). |
| February 2024 | Wildfires in Chile killed at least 131 people and destroyed more than 14,000 homes. Climate change may have contributed to these fires by increasing the frequency and intensity of droughts and heatwaves, although other factors may have been involved, including El Niño and the loss of natural forests. |
| March–April 2024 | Extreme heat affected a large portion of North Africa and the Sahel, potentially killing hundreds or thousands of people. Heat waves of this magnitude likely could not have occurred in the absence of climate change (Barnes et al. 2024a). |
| April 2024 | Heavy rain led to flash floods in the Persian Gulf region, killing at least 33 people. Climate change probably exacerbated this rainfall. |
| March–May 2024 | Heavy rainfall in East Africa caused severe flooding that killed hundreds and affected more than 700,000 people. This region has seen an increase in observed rainfall over the past 15 years that is at least partly attributable to climate change (Kimutai et al. 2024). |
| April–May 2024 | Many regions of Asia experienced devastating heatwaves, with approximately 1,500 heat stroke fatalities in Myanmar alone (Pearce and Ware 2024). As part of the longest heat wave ever recorded in India, temperatures reached 50°C in some areas and heat-related illnesses resulted in at least 60 deaths. Climate change is making such heat waves more frequent and extreme in some parts of Asia (Zachariah et al. 2024b). |
| April–May 2024 | Extensive flooding in southern Brazil devastated 478 cities, killed 173 people, and left 38 people missing, 806 injured, and 423,486 displaced. The estimated cost of the cleanup is US$3.7 billion (Malabarba et al. 2024). It was estimated that climate change roughly doubled the likelihood of the extreme rainfall that caused these floods (Clarke et al. 2024). |
| May 2024 | A wind storm in Texas, United States killed 5 people and left more than 600,000 people without power. Climate change may be making straight-line wind storms such as this one more frequent and intense. |
| May 2024 | Severe Cyclonic Storm Remal killed at least 84 people in India and Bangladesh. Climate change has led to an increase in the frequency and intensity of such severe storms. |
| May–June 2024 | Mexico and nearby areas faced extreme heat; at least 125 people have died in Mexico because of heat-related illnesses this year. Climate change is increasing the frequency of such extreme heat waves (Pinto et al. 2024). |
| June 2024 | At least 1,170 pilgrims died in Saudi Arabia during an intense heat wave with temperatures reaching over 50 C. Climate change is contributing to heat waves such as this one. |
| June 2024 | Heavy rainfall in Bangladesh caused landslides that killed at least nine people and floods that left nearly 2 million people stranded. Climate change has increased the intensity of floods in this region. |
| June 2024 | Devastating wildfires burned roughly 440,000 hectares in the Brazilian Pantanal wetlands, threatening economic activities and killing many wild animals. Climate change is estimated to have caused a 40% increase in the intensity of the weather conditions that drove these wildfires (Barnes et al. 2024b). |
| July 2024 | Hurricane Beryl was an exceptionally strong Atlantic hurricane that affected parts of the Caribbean, United States, and Yucatán Peninsula; it killed 64 people and caused more than US$5 billion in damages. Climate change may have contributed to Beryl rapidly intensifying and reaching Category 5 status despite occurring relatively early in the hurricane season. |
| July 2024 | A deadly heatwave in the Mediterranean resulted in at least 23 fatalities. It is highly likely that climate change contributed to the extreme temperatures that were observed. |
| August 2024 | Hurricane Debby was a slow-moving hurricane that caused extensive flooding in the Southeastern United States and killed at least 10 people. Climate change has been linked to increasing hurricane rainfall and intensification rates and may be involved in the slowing of U.S. hurricanes. |
| Timeframe . | Climate disaster . |
|---|---|
| November 2023 | Storm Bettina over Black Sea brought heavy snowfall and rainfall to several countries along the Black Sea, affecting more than 2.5 million people and causing 23 fatalities. The burning of fossil fuels was responsible for an approximately twofold increase in the likelihood of this level of precipitation (Zachariah et al. 2024a). |
| February 2024 | Wildfires in Chile killed at least 131 people and destroyed more than 14,000 homes. Climate change may have contributed to these fires by increasing the frequency and intensity of droughts and heatwaves, although other factors may have been involved, including El Niño and the loss of natural forests. |
| March–April 2024 | Extreme heat affected a large portion of North Africa and the Sahel, potentially killing hundreds or thousands of people. Heat waves of this magnitude likely could not have occurred in the absence of climate change (Barnes et al. 2024a). |
| April 2024 | Heavy rain led to flash floods in the Persian Gulf region, killing at least 33 people. Climate change probably exacerbated this rainfall. |
| March–May 2024 | Heavy rainfall in East Africa caused severe flooding that killed hundreds and affected more than 700,000 people. This region has seen an increase in observed rainfall over the past 15 years that is at least partly attributable to climate change (Kimutai et al. 2024). |
| April–May 2024 | Many regions of Asia experienced devastating heatwaves, with approximately 1,500 heat stroke fatalities in Myanmar alone (Pearce and Ware 2024). As part of the longest heat wave ever recorded in India, temperatures reached 50°C in some areas and heat-related illnesses resulted in at least 60 deaths. Climate change is making such heat waves more frequent and extreme in some parts of Asia (Zachariah et al. 2024b). |
| April–May 2024 | Extensive flooding in southern Brazil devastated 478 cities, killed 173 people, and left 38 people missing, 806 injured, and 423,486 displaced. The estimated cost of the cleanup is US$3.7 billion (Malabarba et al. 2024). It was estimated that climate change roughly doubled the likelihood of the extreme rainfall that caused these floods (Clarke et al. 2024). |
| May 2024 | A wind storm in Texas, United States killed 5 people and left more than 600,000 people without power. Climate change may be making straight-line wind storms such as this one more frequent and intense. |
| May 2024 | Severe Cyclonic Storm Remal killed at least 84 people in India and Bangladesh. Climate change has led to an increase in the frequency and intensity of such severe storms. |
| May–June 2024 | Mexico and nearby areas faced extreme heat; at least 125 people have died in Mexico because of heat-related illnesses this year. Climate change is increasing the frequency of such extreme heat waves (Pinto et al. 2024). |
| June 2024 | At least 1,170 pilgrims died in Saudi Arabia during an intense heat wave with temperatures reaching over 50 C. Climate change is contributing to heat waves such as this one. |
| June 2024 | Heavy rainfall in Bangladesh caused landslides that killed at least nine people and floods that left nearly 2 million people stranded. Climate change has increased the intensity of floods in this region. |
| June 2024 | Devastating wildfires burned roughly 440,000 hectares in the Brazilian Pantanal wetlands, threatening economic activities and killing many wild animals. Climate change is estimated to have caused a 40% increase in the intensity of the weather conditions that drove these wildfires (Barnes et al. 2024b). |
| July 2024 | Hurricane Beryl was an exceptionally strong Atlantic hurricane that affected parts of the Caribbean, United States, and Yucatán Peninsula; it killed 64 people and caused more than US$5 billion in damages. Climate change may have contributed to Beryl rapidly intensifying and reaching Category 5 status despite occurring relatively early in the hurricane season. |
| July 2024 | A deadly heatwave in the Mediterranean resulted in at least 23 fatalities. It is highly likely that climate change contributed to the extreme temperatures that were observed. |
| August 2024 | Hurricane Debby was a slow-moving hurricane that caused extensive flooding in the Southeastern United States and killed at least 10 people. Climate change has been linked to increasing hurricane rainfall and intensification rates and may be involved in the slowing of U.S. hurricanes. |
Note: We list numerous recent disasters that may be at least partly related to climate change. This list is not intended to be exhaustive. Because of the recent nature of these events, our sources often include news media articles. For each event, we generally provide references indicating that the likelihood or strength of such an event may have increased because of anthropogenic climate change. References to scientific articles are given directly in the table, and links to news articles are provided in supplemental file S1. Some of these climate disasters may be at least partly related to changes in jet streams (Stendel et al. 2021, Rousi et al. 2022).
| Timeframe . | Climate disaster . |
|---|---|
| November 2023 | Storm Bettina over Black Sea brought heavy snowfall and rainfall to several countries along the Black Sea, affecting more than 2.5 million people and causing 23 fatalities. The burning of fossil fuels was responsible for an approximately twofold increase in the likelihood of this level of precipitation (Zachariah et al. 2024a). |
| February 2024 | Wildfires in Chile killed at least 131 people and destroyed more than 14,000 homes. Climate change may have contributed to these fires by increasing the frequency and intensity of droughts and heatwaves, although other factors may have been involved, including El Niño and the loss of natural forests. |
| March–April 2024 | Extreme heat affected a large portion of North Africa and the Sahel, potentially killing hundreds or thousands of people. Heat waves of this magnitude likely could not have occurred in the absence of climate change (Barnes et al. 2024a). |
| April 2024 | Heavy rain led to flash floods in the Persian Gulf region, killing at least 33 people. Climate change probably exacerbated this rainfall. |
| March–May 2024 | Heavy rainfall in East Africa caused severe flooding that killed hundreds and affected more than 700,000 people. This region has seen an increase in observed rainfall over the past 15 years that is at least partly attributable to climate change (Kimutai et al. 2024). |
| April–May 2024 | Many regions of Asia experienced devastating heatwaves, with approximately 1,500 heat stroke fatalities in Myanmar alone (Pearce and Ware 2024). As part of the longest heat wave ever recorded in India, temperatures reached 50°C in some areas and heat-related illnesses resulted in at least 60 deaths. Climate change is making such heat waves more frequent and extreme in some parts of Asia (Zachariah et al. 2024b). |
| April–May 2024 | Extensive flooding in southern Brazil devastated 478 cities, killed 173 people, and left 38 people missing, 806 injured, and 423,486 displaced. The estimated cost of the cleanup is US$3.7 billion (Malabarba et al. 2024). It was estimated that climate change roughly doubled the likelihood of the extreme rainfall that caused these floods (Clarke et al. 2024). |
| May 2024 | A wind storm in Texas, United States killed 5 people and left more than 600,000 people without power. Climate change may be making straight-line wind storms such as this one more frequent and intense. |
| May 2024 | Severe Cyclonic Storm Remal killed at least 84 people in India and Bangladesh. Climate change has led to an increase in the frequency and intensity of such severe storms. |
| May–June 2024 | Mexico and nearby areas faced extreme heat; at least 125 people have died in Mexico because of heat-related illnesses this year. Climate change is increasing the frequency of such extreme heat waves (Pinto et al. 2024). |
| June 2024 | At least 1,170 pilgrims died in Saudi Arabia during an intense heat wave with temperatures reaching over 50 C. Climate change is contributing to heat waves such as this one. |
| June 2024 | Heavy rainfall in Bangladesh caused landslides that killed at least nine people and floods that left nearly 2 million people stranded. Climate change has increased the intensity of floods in this region. |
| June 2024 | Devastating wildfires burned roughly 440,000 hectares in the Brazilian Pantanal wetlands, threatening economic activities and killing many wild animals. Climate change is estimated to have caused a 40% increase in the intensity of the weather conditions that drove these wildfires (Barnes et al. 2024b). |
| July 2024 | Hurricane Beryl was an exceptionally strong Atlantic hurricane that affected parts of the Caribbean, United States, and Yucatán Peninsula; it killed 64 people and caused more than US$5 billion in damages. Climate change may have contributed to Beryl rapidly intensifying and reaching Category 5 status despite occurring relatively early in the hurricane season. |
| July 2024 | A deadly heatwave in the Mediterranean resulted in at least 23 fatalities. It is highly likely that climate change contributed to the extreme temperatures that were observed. |
| August 2024 | Hurricane Debby was a slow-moving hurricane that caused extensive flooding in the Southeastern United States and killed at least 10 people. Climate change has been linked to increasing hurricane rainfall and intensification rates and may be involved in the slowing of U.S. hurricanes. |
| Timeframe . | Climate disaster . |
|---|---|
| November 2023 | Storm Bettina over Black Sea brought heavy snowfall and rainfall to several countries along the Black Sea, affecting more than 2.5 million people and causing 23 fatalities. The burning of fossil fuels was responsible for an approximately twofold increase in the likelihood of this level of precipitation (Zachariah et al. 2024a). |
| February 2024 | Wildfires in Chile killed at least 131 people and destroyed more than 14,000 homes. Climate change may have contributed to these fires by increasing the frequency and intensity of droughts and heatwaves, although other factors may have been involved, including El Niño and the loss of natural forests. |
| March–April 2024 | Extreme heat affected a large portion of North Africa and the Sahel, potentially killing hundreds or thousands of people. Heat waves of this magnitude likely could not have occurred in the absence of climate change (Barnes et al. 2024a). |
| April 2024 | Heavy rain led to flash floods in the Persian Gulf region, killing at least 33 people. Climate change probably exacerbated this rainfall. |
| March–May 2024 | Heavy rainfall in East Africa caused severe flooding that killed hundreds and affected more than 700,000 people. This region has seen an increase in observed rainfall over the past 15 years that is at least partly attributable to climate change (Kimutai et al. 2024). |
| April–May 2024 | Many regions of Asia experienced devastating heatwaves, with approximately 1,500 heat stroke fatalities in Myanmar alone (Pearce and Ware 2024). As part of the longest heat wave ever recorded in India, temperatures reached 50°C in some areas and heat-related illnesses resulted in at least 60 deaths. Climate change is making such heat waves more frequent and extreme in some parts of Asia (Zachariah et al. 2024b). |
| April–May 2024 | Extensive flooding in southern Brazil devastated 478 cities, killed 173 people, and left 38 people missing, 806 injured, and 423,486 displaced. The estimated cost of the cleanup is US$3.7 billion (Malabarba et al. 2024). It was estimated that climate change roughly doubled the likelihood of the extreme rainfall that caused these floods (Clarke et al. 2024). |
| May 2024 | A wind storm in Texas, United States killed 5 people and left more than 600,000 people without power. Climate change may be making straight-line wind storms such as this one more frequent and intense. |
| May 2024 | Severe Cyclonic Storm Remal killed at least 84 people in India and Bangladesh. Climate change has led to an increase in the frequency and intensity of such severe storms. |
| May–June 2024 | Mexico and nearby areas faced extreme heat; at least 125 people have died in Mexico because of heat-related illnesses this year. Climate change is increasing the frequency of such extreme heat waves (Pinto et al. 2024). |
| June 2024 | At least 1,170 pilgrims died in Saudi Arabia during an intense heat wave with temperatures reaching over 50 C. Climate change is contributing to heat waves such as this one. |
| June 2024 | Heavy rainfall in Bangladesh caused landslides that killed at least nine people and floods that left nearly 2 million people stranded. Climate change has increased the intensity of floods in this region. |
| June 2024 | Devastating wildfires burned roughly 440,000 hectares in the Brazilian Pantanal wetlands, threatening economic activities and killing many wild animals. Climate change is estimated to have caused a 40% increase in the intensity of the weather conditions that drove these wildfires (Barnes et al. 2024b). |
| July 2024 | Hurricane Beryl was an exceptionally strong Atlantic hurricane that affected parts of the Caribbean, United States, and Yucatán Peninsula; it killed 64 people and caused more than US$5 billion in damages. Climate change may have contributed to Beryl rapidly intensifying and reaching Category 5 status despite occurring relatively early in the hurricane season. |
| July 2024 | A deadly heatwave in the Mediterranean resulted in at least 23 fatalities. It is highly likely that climate change contributed to the extreme temperatures that were observed. |
| August 2024 | Hurricane Debby was a slow-moving hurricane that caused extensive flooding in the Southeastern United States and killed at least 10 people. Climate change has been linked to increasing hurricane rainfall and intensification rates and may be involved in the slowing of U.S. hurricanes. |
Note: We list numerous recent disasters that may be at least partly related to climate change. This list is not intended to be exhaustive. Because of the recent nature of these events, our sources often include news media articles. For each event, we generally provide references indicating that the likelihood or strength of such an event may have increased because of anthropogenic climate change. References to scientific articles are given directly in the table, and links to news articles are provided in supplemental file S1. Some of these climate disasters may be at least partly related to changes in jet streams (Stendel et al. 2021, Rousi et al. 2022).
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