The 2024 Wayanad landslides have been recognised by a United Nations report as one of 26 global extreme weather events triggered by climate change.
Released by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) in collaboration with Climate Central, the report highlights the profound impact of climate change on global weather patterns, contributing to the death of at least 3,700 people last year.
The landslides, which struck the Chooralmala and Mundakkai regions of Kerala's Wayanad district in July 2024, resulted from torrential rains.
The disaster claimed over 350 lives, left numerous individuals injured, and displaced thousands, rendering many homeless.
The UNDRR report detailed the devastating consequences of climate change, identifying 26 significant disasters worldwide in 2024, ranging from heatwaves to floods. Additionally, Climate Central's analysis revealed an average increase of 41 dangerous heat days globally due to human-induced climate change.
“Small islands and developing states bore the brunt of these health-threatening conditions, making them particularly vulnerable to climate impacts,” the report maintained, further emphasising the disproportionate effects on vulnerable regions.
While the presence of El Niño at the start of 2024 influenced global weather, the report noted that climate change exerted a more profound influence, exacerbating extreme weather conditions.
The Amazon, for instance, experienced historic drought, with the warming planet altering natural climate cycles.
The report concluded by urging urgent global climate action to mitigate escalating risks as communities worldwide grapple with increasingly frequent and severe weather events.
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