A new report by the World Meteorological Organization reveals that Africa is disproportionately affected by climate change, with countries spending up to 9% of their budgets to combat climate extremes. Despite contributing significantly less to global emissions, Africa is experiencing rising temperatures and extreme weather events, impacting economic growth and requiring substantial investments in adaptation measures.
In 2023, Asia bore the brunt of climate change impacts, as floods and storms accounted for most climate-related disasters, according to a report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). These events killed over 2,000 people, affected millions more, and caused significant economic losses. Southern China, in particular, faced severe flooding, with over 100,000 evacuations in the Pearl River Delta region. Additionally, extreme heat and accelerated glacier melting were recorded across the continent, highlighting the urgent need for climate adaptation and mitigation measures.
A new report by Copernicus and WMO highlights the devastating impacts of flooding in Europe in 2023, with one-third of rivers exceeding the ‘high’ flood threshold and 16% surpassing the ‘severe’ mark. Extreme rainfall events fueled by climate change were behind many of the worst floods, particularly in Italy, Slovenia, Greece, and the UK. The report also emphasizes the potential for run-of-river hydropower as a form of renewable energy, with above-average precipitation in Europe increasing its viability. However, droughts also affected parts of Europe, underscoring the diverse hydrological impacts of climate change.
