We all have noticed that the weather is getting wilder. In recent years, we are continuously
hearing news about highest on record heatwaves, disastrous floods, and massive wildfires.
That is not just our thought our planet weather is definitely changing, and it’s going on very
fast. Let’s breakdown what is going on, why and what we can do about it.

Extreme Weather events

When weather becomes severe and unusual for a particular place and time of year, it is
referred to as extreme weather events. Below are some major type of extreme weather:

Heatwaves

These are long-lasting time period of very hot weather. For example, the heatwave in the
Pacific Northwest of the US and Canada in 2021 would have been “all but impossible” without
climate change. In 2025, extreme heat in Europe was linked to thousands of deaths.

Floods

When it rains, it pours—literally. Warmer air have more moisture in it which can cause heavier
rainfall. In 2024, Toronto saw nearly 10 centimeters of rain in just three hours, causing
extensive flooding. Even places not known for rain, like Dubai, are seeing historic cloudburst,
which are now twice as likely to happen due to climate change.

Wildfires

Hot, dry conditions turn forests and grasslands into tinderboxes. A historic heatwave in
British Columbia in 2021 led to the catastrophic fire that destroyed the town of Lytton.
Scientists predict that extreme fires could increase up to 30% by 2050.

Causes of World’s Weather Changing

It is very important to understand that why this is happening. The main reason is the
burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas which we use for energy, transportation and
industrial purpose.

• Blanket around the Earth:
  We release greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere, when we
  burn fossil fuels. All these gases form a thick blanket that trap heat from the sun.
• The planet heats up:
  The planet’s average temperature rises due to the trapped heat. In fact, 2011-2020 was the
  warmest years on records. The global temperature is now 1.4 °C above pre-industrial levels.
• Supercharged atmosphere:
  This extra heat makes our weather hot. Heatwaves becomes more hotter and longer. It dries
  soil and vegetation, creating a perfect condition for wildfires. It allows air to carry more
  moisture, which cause more destructive rain and snow.

How a warmer world fuels extreme weather

The table summarizes how a warmer world impact these events.

Extreme Weather Events	How a Warmer World Fuels It
Heatwaves	Higher temperatures boost extreme heat event more longer, frequent and more intense.
Heavy rainfall and Floods	More moisture in warm air, which lead to record-breaking cloudburst and increased flooding
Wildfires	Higher temperatures dry out landscapes, which can be a source of fires to start and spread
Hurricanes/Storms	Warmer seas make hurricanes stronger and potentially more destructive

Rise in extreme weather events

This is the number of how much extreme weather become frequent in just one region (Chicago area)

Types of events	75 years average (1950-2024)	10 years average (2015-2024)	Increase
Severe weather reports	118 per year	345 per year	+192%
Tornadoes	11 per year	26 per year	+136%
Damaging winds reports	80 per year	245 per year	+206%
Damaging hail reports	28 per year	75 per year	+168%

Ways to Control It

The good news is we can still control this. There are two main ways:

• Mitigation: Stopping problem from getting worse
• Adaptation: Protecting ourselves from the impacts we can no longer avoid

How can we Reduce the Problem

• By transferring to the renewable energy resources. We can shift from fossils to clean energy
  like solar and wind power. This is the most important step to stop greenhouse gases from
  getting into air.
• By enhancing energy efficiency. We can use less energy by making our homes, appliances and
  industries more efficient. It includes smart thermostats, better insulation and LED lighting.
• By promoting sustainable transportation like switching to walk, bike, public transport or
  electric vehicles. This reduces pollution we get from using separate transport.
• By protecting and restoring forest. Tress absorb carbon dioxide naturally from the atmosphere.
  We should plant new forests and stop deforestation.
• By adopting sustainable agriculture. Planting trees alongside crops. This can restore carbon
  in soil and make farm more resilient to drought.

Recent Records of 2025

• Hottest years 2015-2025: These were the 11 warmest years on record
• December 2025 CO₂: 427.5ppm, the highest in human history
• Global temperature: 1.34 above pre-industrial levels