PL
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has officially confirmed that 2024 is the warmest year on record for meteorological measurements. This record result is directly related to the ongoing global warming, the main cause of which is still the emission of greenhouse gases resulting from human activity.
One consequence of climate change is the increasingly frequent occurrence of extreme weather phenomena, such as long-term and intense droughts, which have a serious impact on ecosystems, agriculture and water resources globally.
Record temperatures and their consequences
In 2024, the average global temperature was about 1.3°C above the pre-industrial average. Record values were recorded both on land and on the ocean surface, which additionally experienced intensive heating. This has contributed to the increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.
Global warming also affects changes in precipitation patterns, leading to their irregular distribution. Regions that were previously characterised by stable precipitation sums are now struggling with deficits or excesses, resulting in droughts, and floods.
Impact of warming on droughts
- Reduced soil moisture. Rising global temperatures significantly increase the evaporation of water from soils and vegetations, leading to dryness, especially in regions exposed to prolonged heat waves. The effect is a decrease in agricultural productivity, especially in areas with limited water resources.
- Disruptions in the water cycle. Global warming is melting glaciers and reducing snow cover, which are key water reservoirs. Less water from melting snow lowers its levels in rivers and reservoirs, especially in the summer.
- Increase in the frequency of extreme droughts. According to climate reports, 2024 brought exceptionally severe droughts in many regions of the world, including Central Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. These droughts have caused serious consequences – from shortages of drinking water, through rising food prices, to mass migrations of people from the areas most affected by the shortage.
Economic and social impacts of droughts
Droughts in 2024 have particularly affected the agriculture, energy and water supply sectors. Declines in agricultural production have translated into higher food prices on global markets, which has intensified problems related to hunger and malnutrition in developing countries. Drying rivers have limited the possibility of producing hydropower, and municipal water supplies in many places have struggled with a lack of resources to meet the needs of residents.
How to counteract the effects of warming?
Reducing the effects of warming and droughts requires decisive action to protect the climate. The main actions include:
- reducing greenhouse gas emissions by investing in renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency and supporting the transformation towards a low-emission economy
- changing agricultural practices by implementing regenerative agriculture methods that increase the soil’s ability to retain water and improve its structure. Investments in irrigation systems that minimize water losses, and the introduction of drought-resistant crops are also important
- restoration activities, such as the restoration of wetlands, the restoration of rivers or the removal of concrete from many urban surfaces, which increases, the environment’s ability to naturally retain water. Natural systems such as wetlands store water, mitigate the effects of floods and droughts and support biodiversity
- construction and modernization of hydrotechnical infrastructure, but limited to places where natural retention methods are insufficient or impossible to implement
- seawater desalination technologies, used in regions with critical water shortages due to the amount of energy used and the waste generated in the process
- educating the public and raising awareness about water management
A sustainable approach requires combining technological and natural solutions, taking into account local hydrological conditions and social needs.
In summary, 2024 has shown how strongly climate warming affects water resources and, consequently, security in access to food worldwide. Only coordinated action at the international level can help mitigate these effects and prevent even more serious consequences in the years to come.
