The Impact of Climate Change on Extreme Weather

Pain and sorrow fill every corner of Mother Earth’s heart. There’s a war being fought. A battle that each and every one of us is a part of, whether we realize it or not. Humanity faces off with its biggest foe yet, the monster. You know this monster. Some know it better than others. It lurks in the shadows, feeding on human disbelief and ignorance, growing stronger each day, ready to strike and end the world as we know it. The monster has been given many names, but it is known by all as climate change. For too long, we have underestimated the might of our adversary. Although its real appearance is surreptitious, we feel its eerie presence with every step we take forward. This unyielding creature, in a given time, has the ability to melt glaciers, make sea levels rise, engulf coastal regions, and collapse entire ecosystems.

And here’s the bitter truth. Climate change is the result of man’s negligence. Deforestation and unsustainable agricultural practices have drastically altered the balance of nature. The origins of this monster are linked to the industrial revolution that took place in the 1800s. After fossil fuels became an addiction to human society, the additional greenhouse gases fueled the monster's overwhelming fury.

But the monster is no longer a distant threat—it is here, and it is evolving rapidly, feeding on the very fabric of our world. Research shows that our actions have directly altered the course of weather extremes that are beyond imagination. Studies indicate that human-caused climate change has significantly altered the likelihood and severity of weather extremes, with approximately 71% of 504 extreme weather events—such as droughts, heatwaves, and floods—being directly linked to climate change. This is a reality we face every day.

Particularly alarming is the finding that 93% of extreme heat events assessed have been made more likely or severe due to climate change. The very air we breathe is becoming unbearable, the sun’s heat more intense, and our once-familiar seasons distorted beyond recognition. These are not just random occurrences; they are the imprints left by climate change that signify its blight and destructiveness on every corner of our world.

The damage doesn’t stop there. Of the 126 rainfall or flooding events studied, 56% have shown increased severity, directly linked to anthropogenic influences. The rains that once nourished the earth now overwhelm it, triggering devastation that leaves communities displaced and vulnerable. The situation is compounded by the alarming increase in frequency and intensity of such events. Between 2000 and 2022, the number of extreme events grew substantially, mirroring the rising global temperatures that fuel this relentless beast.

The implications of this are dire, and yet we stand at a crossroads. Climate change isn't something that folds its hands and sits around. The longer we turn a blind eye, the more destruction it leaves in its wake. The time to act is now. We must rise against this force, challenge the systems that feed it, and restore balance before the earth—our home—becomes a battlefield we cannot survive. As of now, we are the sole cause of the chaos that unfolds before our eyes. I envision a day where we are the solution.