Report published by Global Water Monitor, January 2025.
A new report by the Global Water Monitor found that, in 2024, the world broke new temperature records while precipitation extremes increased. Water-related disasters caused extensive impacts, with climate change contributing to the severity of floods, droughts, and cyclones.
Some of the key findings of the report include:
Climate change is making water disasters worse. Rising temperatures caused by fossil fuel burning are increasing the strength and rainfall intensity of monsoons, cyclones and other storm systems.
Global temperatures continue to increase rapidly. Average air temperature over land area hit an all-time high.
Both high rainfall and drought are becoming more extreme. In 2024, months with record-low precipitation and record-high rainfall extremes became more frequent.
Water-related disasters caused major damage in 2024. Flash floods, landslides, and tropical cyclones were the worst types of disasters in terms of casualties and economic damage.
Floods and drought impacted different parts of Africa, and drought conditions deepened in the Amazon basin and Southern Africa.
The outlook for 2025 shows increased risks. Seasonal climate forecasts and current catchment conditions signal potential worsening of droughts in northern South America, southern Africa, and parts of Asia. Wetter regions like the Europe may face elevated flood risk. Ongoing climate change makes extreme events such as flash floods, heatwaves and bushfires more likely everywhere.
These are extracts from a report published by Global Water Monitor, January 2025. The full report can be accessed via the link here.
Suggestions for further reading:
Spain’s stressful water problem
World Drought Atlas: the global water crisis requires urgent action to preserve climate security
From Floods To Disaster: A Conflict- And Climate-Sensitive Recovery Pathway For Libya
Ethiopia’s worst drought in over 40 years: re-emerging risks to conflict