News & Current Events

Report: Extreme weather driving water-related disasters

The Guardian | Mon Jan. 6th, 2025

Last year was the hottest one on record for the fourth consecutive year, disrupting the global water cycle and driving an uptick in extreme weather events, according to the 2024 Global Water Monitor Report. In 2024, water-related disasters resulted in nearly 9,000 deaths, displaced 40 million people and drove more than $550 billion in economic losses. "We need to prepare and adapt to inevitably more severe extreme events," said Van Dijk. "That can mean stronger flood defenses, developing more drought-resilient food production and water supplies, and better early warning systems," said lead author Albert van Dijk.