Wild weather set to get worse because of climate change

An upcoming report from the UN’s climate change panel into the effects of global warming shows that the world is set for worse and wilder weather, as Charlotte Reid explains.

Top scientists warn that future weather forecasts should expect more flooding, heat waves and droughts – and the costs of dealing with them will also grow.

The report, written by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), says that the extremes in weather caused by global warming could become so severe that some places may become “increasingly marginal places to live”.

A draft summary of the report, obtained by the Associated Press, says there is a two-in-three probability that weather extremes have got worse because of man-made greenhouse gases.

The report, which is due to be released in a few weeks in Uganda, says the experts are “virtually certain” that the world will have more extreme spells of hot weather and fewer of cold weather.

The research focused on the frequency of extreme heavy rainstorms. The results show that while scientists expect hurricanes and tropical cyclones to happen less often, they will have far stronger winds. More intense monsoons are also expected.

Another bigger problem will be the number of people living in the areas that are to be most affected by the changes in weather, although the report did not detail which countries are likely to be left marginally habitable.

The authors of the report told the Associated Press that they did not want to comment as the report was not final and was still subject to change.

Unfortunately, University of Victoria climate scientist Andrew Weaver, who did not help with the report, said it was written in a way to be “so bland” that it would not matter to world leaders.

The report will seek for diplomat approval in mid-November.