Since the Industrial Revolution, human activities have been the primary cause of global warming and climate changes. This is particularly because of the consumption of fossil fuels like coal, gas, and oil. The United Nations defines climate change as “long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Such shifts can be natural, due to changes in the sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions.”

When we burn fossil fuels, it releases greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which in turn trap the incoming heat of the sun and result in an increase in temperature.

Carbon dioxide and methane are the main contributors to climate change. While CO₂ is often released from vehicles running on gasoline or burning coal, methane is primarily emitted from agricultural practices.

Understanding Global Warming and Climate Changes

Scientists have long suggested that we need to limit our global temperature rise to 1.5°C to sustain life on Earth, but reports from the UN indicate we are on track for a 3.1°C temperature rise by 2100. The world’s largest six emitters accounted for more than half of the total emissions last year. These countries included China, the United States, India, the European Union, Russia, and Brazil. In the last 200 years, humans have been the major reason for the rising temperatures of the globe. The earth is 1.2°C warmer than what it was back in the 1800s.

Contrary to the misconception that climate change only results in warmer temperatures, studies increasingly reveal that heavy rain, droughts, wildfires, rising sea levels, floods, biodiversity decline, and stronger storms are all consequences of climate change.

Natural Disasters and Climate Change

Hurricanes and Tropical Storms

Recently, in September 2024, Hurricane Helene managed to show us how climate change is fueling stronger hurricanes. The tropical cyclone intensified from a storm to a Category 4 hurricane, affecting Tennessee, Georgia, and North Carolina. It resulted in over 230 fatalities and caused damage of $200 billion.

Storms are becoming wetter as warmer air retains more precipitation. Research indicates that severe rainfall events, such as Hurricane Helene, are becoming more frequent due to climate change, with hurricane rainfall expected to rise by 10-15% by the end of the century.

Hurricanes get stronger as water temperatures rise. Storms like Helene strengthen more quickly because warmer oceans release more energy. Sea surface temperatures have increased by 0.88°C (1.5°F) in the last century, and further warming is expected to make Category 4 and 5 storms more frequent.

The impact of storm surges during hurricanes is expected to increase when sea levels rise by 29–110 cm by the year 2100. Since 40% of Americans live near the shore, this increase will increase the susceptibility of coastal regions to future flooding and powerful storms.

Flooding

Since the 1950s, there has been an increase in the frequency and severity of extreme precipitation events worldwide. These occurrences happen when precipitation or snowfall are far higher than usual. Since 1901, yearly precipitation in the United States has risen by 0.2 inches per ten years, with severe precipitation events exceeding this general tendency. Significant increases in heavy rainfall have occurred in the Midwest and Northeast.

According to scientists, the air’s capacity to hold moisture will rise by 7% for every degree Celsius as the earth heats. Overall, changes in precipitation levels can still be caused by the combination of more intense and frequent heavy events, even if some models indicate that moderate rainfall may decline.

Recent instances of excessive precipitation include the 2021 floods in Tennessee, with 22 inches of rain in a single day, and the 2022 flooding in Jackson, Mississippi, which overloaded water treatment facilities. In 2017, Hurricane Harvey dumped 48 inches of rain on Houston, resulting in extensive flooding and substantial destruction, with an estimated $148.8 billion in damages.

Wildfires

Wildfires are becoming more considerable and more severe due to global warming and climate change, which exacerbates hot, dry weather. Record wildfires are occurring in regions ranging from California to the Siberian Arctic as a result of rising global temperatures. These fires may originate from human activity, such as campfires or electrical malfunctions, or from natural sources, such as lightning.
Warmer temperatures cause plants to dry up and become fire fuel. Trees under stress from drought are more susceptible to disease and pests, which can intensify wildfires. Melting snowpacks decrease the amount of water available for plants, raising the danger of fire in areas like the western United States.

Despite the fact that fire has ecological benefits, such as removing dead vegetation, climate change, poor forest management, and land expansion in susceptible places all lead to more devastating wildfires.

Droughts

Droughts are becoming more frequent due to climate change, particularly in areas like the Southwest of the United States. Warmer temperatures promote evaporation, which dries down soils and lowers surface water, making dry spells even more intense. The water supply schedule is changing due to climate change; in places like Sierra Nevada, warmer winters result in less snowfall.
Extreme droughts and floods are predicted by certain climate models that predict more precipitation variability. Droughts raise economic losses, damage agriculture, exacerbate problems with water supplies, and have a substantial impact on public health, transportation, and communities.

Heatwaves

Climate change intensifies heatwaves, which worsen the effects of wildfires, droughts, and agricultural losses, impacting vulnerable groups, especially those with limited resources. The urban heat island effect makes heat waves more likely to occur in metropolitan areas. Additionally, diseases and pests are spreading more widely due to climate change, which has a detrimental impact on ecosystems, food security, and human health. Heatwaves increase mortality, particularly for people who work outside or in harsh environments. The rise in temperature is already beyond the limitations of human labor in many areas. The impacts on infrastructure, agriculture, and human health will only worsen as temperatures increase.

Also Read: Environmental Changes And Their Role In Natural Disasters

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies

• In order to attain the 1.5°C objective, governments must prioritise global safety by lowering emissions and incorporating catastrophe risk reduction into their policies.
• All development plans must incorporate climate risk management, and it must be backed by enhanced metrics to evaluate disaster readiness and climate resilience.
• For inclusive and equitable climate action, gender-sensitive policies and a ‘social contract’ on climate obligations are crucial.
• Climate resilience should be given top priority in infrastructure expenditures, together with low-carbon and nature-based approaches.
• In addition to investing in risk management techniques and green economic recovery, governments and stakeholders should guarantee the fair allocation of climate financing.
• Increasing scientific understanding and enhancing communication are crucial for bridging the gap between risk awareness and action.

Addressing the challenges posed by global warming and climate change requires urgent global action, including emissions reduction, adaptive strategies, and equitable resilience efforts to protect vulnerable populations. The rising frequency and intensity of natural disasters underscore the need for coordinated, science-based responses to mitigate and adapt to global warming.

Also Read: 2024 On Track To Break 1.5°C Global Warming Threshold: A Climate Warning