Floods devastate countries across multiple continents as climate change intensifies

Extreme rainfall has recently caused deadly floods and landslides in countries across four continents, with scientists linking the worsening events to climate change and inadequate infrastructure.

Austyn Gaffney and Somini Sengupta report for The New York Times.

In short:

• Flooding in countries like Vietnam, Chad, and the United States has killed thousands and displaced millions.
• Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of floods by warming the atmosphere, which holds more moisture.
• Poor infrastructure and deforestation worsen flood impacts, especially in low-income nations already facing conflict and poverty.

Key quote:

“Extreme events are getting stronger everywhere, so we should expect floods to be bigger regardless of where we are.”

— Michael Wehner, scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Why this matters:

Floods driven by climate change are happening more frequently and across diverse regions. Rich and poor countries alike will need to invest in stronger infrastructure and early-warning systems to mitigate the damage caused by extreme weather.

Related:

• Floods displace nearly a million in West and Central Africa
• Flooding costs US economy hundreds of billions annually
• Climate change drives severe winter flooding in the UK