Publication Date December 6, 2021 | National Geographic

2021's weather disasters brought home the reality of climate change

On July 16, the German region of North Rhine-Westphalia was engulfed by floodwaters resulting from extreme rainfall. (PHOTO BY DAVID YOUNG, PICTURE ALLIANCE/GETTY IMAGES)
On July 16, the German region of North Rhine-Westphalia was engulfed by floodwaters resulting from extreme rainfall. (PHOTO BY DAVID YOUNG, PICTURE ALLIANCE/GETTY IMAGES)

Climate Signals summary: 2021 was another reminder of the impact of human-caused climate change as it fueled record-breaking floods, heat waves, wildfires, droughts, and more all around the world.


Article excerpt: 

From punishing heat in North America to record-breaking floods in Europe and Asia, this year’s weather showed us what it looks like to live in a world that has warmed by 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 degrees Celsius) over the past century.

“Dangerous climate change is already here. That’s a harsh reality we need to recognize,” says Michael Wehner, an extreme weather researcher at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Extreme weather is already taking homes, businesses, and lives. Canada’s recent floods may be the most expensive in the country’s history, potentially costing an estimated $7.5 billion. The 18 weather disasters that hit the United States in 2021 together cost more than $100 billion, according to the most recent estimates.

You can read the rest of this article here: 

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/this-year-extreme-weather-brought-home-reality-of-climate-change