The World Meteorological Organization has announced that the high temperatures sweeping across large parts of the Northern Hemisphere and the devastating floods caused by heavy rainfall disrupting the lives and livelihoods of millions of people highlight the urgent need for more climate action.
According to the official website of the organization, June experienced the highest average global temperatures ever recorded, while heatwaves persisted into early July. Additionally, heavy rains and floods resulted in dozens of fatalities and impacted millions of people in the United States, Japan, China, and India.
Petteri Taalas, the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization, stated that increasingly recurring extreme weather patterns due to climate change "have significant impacts on human health, ecosystems, economies, agriculture, energy, and water supplies." He called for intensified efforts to help communities adapt to "what has unfortunately become the new normal."
Heatwaves are among the deadliest natural hazards, leading to the deaths of thousands of people every year.
