🌏 Climate Whiplash by 2064

🌏 Climate Whiplash by 2064

A recent climate study led by The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology revealed that with continued high emissions, the Northern Hemisphere summer monsoon regions will undergo extreme weather events starting in 2064. Asia and other tropical regions will face sub-seasonal “whiplash” events, with extreme downpours and dry spells alternating every 30 to 90 days. These events could then trigger climate disruptions with catastrophic impacts on food production, water management, and clean energy systems. Their research also identifies risks beyond Asia. Atmospheric teleconnections could lead to Arctic precipitation swings such as amplifying rainfall variability in Greenland and northern Russia. Increased whiplash events in central and northern Africa could also alter Saharan dust emissions, potentially disrupting tropical cyclone formation over the Atlantic Ocean. The study says there is an urgent need to invest in and improve sub-seasonal-to-seasonal forecasting models to stay ahead of these evolving challenges.

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Phys.org

😃 Positive Climate News in 2025

Despite greenhouse gas emissions rising in 2025 and country pledges to cut those emissions being nowhere near where they need to be, there was still positive climate news over the past year. Clean energy investment reached a record $2.2 trillion globally, with renewable capacity growing 11% and meeting all new electricity demand. Battery prices fell 8% to record lows, making electric vehicles and grid storage more affordable for consumers and utilities worldwide. The High Seas Treaty was ratified and will take effect in January 2026, making climate action a legal obligation for nations. The rise of AI is enabling new climate solutions and expediting climate research. The UN annual climate summit concluded with an agreement to triple climate adaptation finance to $120 billion per year by 2035.

Laura Millan, Coco Liu, Olivia Rudgard, and Kyle Stock, LA Times

🏜️ First State of the Climate Report in the Arab Region

In December, the World Meteorological Organization released its first ever State of the Climate in the Arab Region report. The 2024 report is dedicated to assessing climate trends and impacts in one of the world’s most vulnerable regions. The report highlighted that 2024 was the hottest year on record for the Arab region, where temperatures are rising at twice the global average. It also noted that droughts are becoming more frequent and severe, threatening water availability and agriculture. Fifteen of the world’s 20 most water-scarce countries are located in the Arab region, making water security a top priority. Extreme events in 2024 caused over 300 reported deaths, with actual human and economic losses likely higher. Nearly 60% of Arab countries now have multi-hazard early warning systems, which is above the global average, but still insufficient given the scale of risks in the area.

World Meteorological Organization

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