Is the weather becoming more extreme?
It’s a question often debated by climate scientists, sceptics and the general public.
There’s no doubt we are now more aware of droughts, typhoons, storm surges and excessive cold or heat.
The UN climate science body the IPCC predicts climate change will benefit some areas, and cause immense damage to others.
And effects that scientists said could arise as a result of warming are now taking place – these include the loss of sea ice and accelerated sea level rise and longer, more intense heat waves.
The World Resources Institute have compiled a useful timeline chronicling extreme weather events in 2012 and 2013 (below).
It illustrates the damage extreme weather can cause to countries and communities, and perhaps why it’s worth avoiding warming above 2 degrees.
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