As 2025 wraps up, it looks like we’re closing in on another record year for heat. Recent data indicates that this year is the second hottest, right after 2024, with temperatures already resembling those of 2023. These rising temperatures increase the likelihood of extreme weather events, making them not only hotter but also more frequent. “We’re seeing more intense heat waves, worsening droughts, and a higher risk for severe fires,” says Theodore Keeping, a researcher at Imperial College London.
Keeping is part of World Weather Attribution (WWA), a team that investigates how climate change affects extreme weather conditions. In 2025, they studied 22 significant weather events across Africa, America, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. Their findings were telling: in 17 instances, the events were “more serious or more likely due to climate change.” However, the data wasn’t clear for the remaining five cases, primarily due to limited meteorological information.
Heat is a significant factor driving wildfires, similar to what was witnessed in Los Angeles last year. But human factors, like poor urban planning, compound these disasters. WWA experts emphasize that investing in better preparation can save lives. “Timely action can prevent many deaths and reduce impacts,” they explain.
Yet, as Keeping warns, there are limits to how much we can prepare. For instance, when a powerful storm approached Jamaica earlier this year, even the best preparations couldn’t stop the devastating effects. “No level of readiness can fully protect small island nations from such intense storms,” he adds. It’s clear: while adapting is crucial, we must also focus on reducing emissions to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. “We urgently need to move away from fossil fuels,” Keeping stresses.
This year’s findings echo previous trends, and Friederike Otto, a climate science professor at Imperial College London, notes that the evidence of warming continues to build. The United Nations International Court of Justice even mandated that nations take action to limit global warming, highlighting the world’s responsibility to act.
Yet, 2025 has also seen a rise in ultra-conservative movements that put environmental action under scrutiny. “Climate change has turned into a cultural battleground,” Otto observes. “Regardless of political views, the impacts of climate change affect everyone’s lives and economic futures.” Misinformation exacerbates this issue, causing real harm. For example, some people in the U.S. failed to heed evacuation orders during disasters, leading to tragic losses.
Among various extreme weather events this year, heat waves proved to be particularly fatal. Though official statistics may underestimate heat-related deaths, it is estimated that a single heat wave in Europe resulted in roughly 24,400 deaths. WWA also noted that heat waves in countries like South Sudan and Norway were intensified by human activity.
Tropical storms added to the toll, especially in Asia, where several storms combined to claim over 1,700 lives. Research showed that the capacity to cope with these disasters varies widely. Keeping emphasizes that the impacts of climate change tend to hit the poorest populations hardest, particularly women and children, who often bear the brunt of these challenges. “Women face added burdens due to leadership gaps and unpaid domestic work,” he says, underscoring the need for equitable responses to climate hardships.
The Global South faces the harshest consequences, not only from the effects of disasters but also from a lack of solid scientific data. Often, studies lack comprehensive observational data, especially in regions mainly analyzed with climate models designed for the Global North. This gap in information contributes to broader injustices in the climate crisis, as those least responsible for emissions suffer the most.
