Climate change added 41 days of dangerous heat around world in 2024

WASHINGTON: People across the world endured an average of 41 extra days of dangerous heat in 2024, a direct consequence of human-induced climate change, according to a new analysis from World Weather Attribution and Climate Central.

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This year, already likely to become the hottest on record, also saw a series of extreme weather events droughts, tropical cyclones, and record-breaking heat-intensified by the climate crisis, leaving millions of people suffering and entire regions devastated.

"The finding is devastating but utterly unsurprising," said Friederike Otto, lead scientist at World Weather Attribution and climate expert at Imperial College. "Climate change played a significant role in most of the events we studied, making heat, droughts, and heavy rainfall more likely and intense, leading to widespread destruction."

2024's extreme temperatures saw devastating heat waves impact regions around the globe. Northern California and Death Valley were among the hardest-hit areas, while Mexico and Central America faced searing daytime temperatures.