The 2024 State of the Climate report reveals that the world experienced 152 climate disasters last year, marking them as “unprecedented” among the 617 reported events.
Extreme weather events led to the highest number of new annual displacements since 2008, destroying homes, vital infrastructure, forests, farmland, and biodiversity. The combined effects of escalating conflicts, droughts, and rising food prices worsened food crises in 18 countries worldwide by mid-2024.
Tropical cyclones, floods, and droughts contributed to record displacements over the past 16 years, further exacerbating food shortages and causing significant economic losses.
The UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) compiled the report based on data from National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, WMO Regional Climate Centres, UN partners, and climate experts.
The report also assesses global temperatures in relation to the Paris Agreement and highlights temperature anomalies in 2023 and 2024. It includes insights into climate services and extreme weather events.
Impact in Africa
The report states that in West and Central Africa, 1,526 people lost their lives, 639,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, and over 1 million people were displaced. Chad and Nigeria were among the hardest-hit nations.
In Kenya, flood-related disasters claimed 282 lives, while Tanzania recorded 161 deaths. Cyclone Hidaya caused at least 236 fatalities in southern Ethiopia, with an additional 172 deaths reported across Mayotte, Mozambique, and Malawi.
Severe heatwaves gripped large parts of West Africa and the Sahel, with inland temperatures often exceeding 45°C. Several stations in Mali recorded their highest temperatures on record, with 102 heat-related deaths reported.
Disasters in Asia and the Americas
Typhoon Yagi was Asia’s most intense storm, making record-breaking landfalls in China and Vietnam, where over 700 lives were lost.
In South America, a wildfire south of Viña del Mar, Chile, resulted in 134 reported deaths, making it the deadliest wildfire in the region’s history. Flooding in Porto Alegre, Brazil, claimed 182 lives, displaced over 420,000 people, and caused billions of dollars in economic losses, ranking among the continent’s costliest disasters.
In the United States, Hurricane Helene caused at least 219 deaths, marking the deadliest mainland U.S. hurricane since Katrina in 2005. The disaster resulted in economic losses of $78.7 billion, making it the most expensive global climate event of 2024 and the costliest inland flooding disaster in U.S. history. The storm impacted western North Carolina, Georgia, western South Carolina, and eastern Tennessee.
Global Call to Action
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the planet is sending distress signals but emphasized that keeping global temperature rise within 1.5°C remains possible.
“Leaders must step up to make it happen—seizing the benefits of cheap, clean renewables for their people and economies, with new national climate plans due this year,” he urged.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo added that while a single year above 1.5°C of warming does not mean the Paris Agreement’s long-term temperature goals are out of reach, it serves as a wake-up call.
“We are increasing the risks to our lives, economies, and the planet,” she cautioned.
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