Impacts of climate change: Heatwaves, hurricanes, storm surges

Droughts are among the most expensive weather-related disasters in the world. They affect plants, animals and people in unimaginable ways...

Evidence suggests that a severe drought was one of the catalysts for the desperation and unrest that descended into the Syrian civil war. And that human-caused climate change has made such droughts in the region more than twice as likely.

Drought also leads to locust plagues. In 2020 one of the largest swarms on record covered 2,400 sq km in Kenya.

The 2018 heatwave scorched land and emptied reservoirs in the UK. It led to hosepipe bans, dying crops and farmers struggling to feed livestock. But it doesn't compare to drought in places like southern India where it's got so bad that some farmers have taken their own lives.

Extreme heat and high levels of air pollution are dangerous. People with heart conditions, asthma and severe allergies are most at risk.

Almost 900 extra deaths were recorded during the summer 2019 heatwave conditions in England, many of which were linked to high temperatures and preventable.

Heat-related deaths could become a summer norm, with 7,000 people a year set to lose their lives by 2050. It's another good reason to demand urgent climate action from our government.

Wildfires cause heartache and misery. They're a major driver of greenhouse gas emissions and are also responsible for 5-8% of the 3.3 million annual premature deaths from poor air quality.

In southern Colorado a wildfire ravaged more than 130 homes and blackened nearly 170 square miles – more land than 60,000 Wembley pitches.

Even in the UK, wildfires raged in places like Saddleworth Moor.

Global warming in our region means more downpours of rain, snow, hail or sleet, or as the scientists say "the frequency and intensity of heavy precipitation events in North America and Europe has likely increased".

Climate change will make flooding in the UK worse, and it's already a huge problem. Over the past decade, severe flooding and record-breaking rainfall have inflicted misery across the nation.

And the UK Environment Agency has warned that we're going to get more intense bouts of flooding.

A storm surge happens when water is pushed towards the shore by strong hurricane winds. If the surge hits normal high tide, it can rear up to 20 feet or more, causing extreme flooding in coastal areas.

Climate change is likely to lead to higher storm surges as sea levels rise.

Higher sea levels give storm surges a higher starting point, increasing their size and reach when they make landfall.