Alarming climate danger: Experts warn of extreme weather events!

Alarming climate danger: Experts warn of extreme weather events!

Global warming is no longer a distant future problem, but a depressing reality that is progressing quickly and unchecked. On November 4, 2025, the updated climate fact paper from six leading climate research and communication organizations was released, providing alarming insights into advancing climate change. This paper, which has been regularly revised since 2020, also includes results from the social sciences for the first time and seeks answers to pressing questions about the causes and consequences of climate change. As Klimafakten reports, surveys of 130,000 people from 125 countries show that 89% of people want their governments to have ambitious climate policies.

Recent years have shown a clear trend: every year for nearly five decades has been warmer than the 20th century average, and the ten warmest years have all occurred in the last decade, with 2024 as the most recent record year. Europe stands out here as the region that is warming the fastest, as shown by the Copernicus climate service. In addition, an increasing charge of extreme weather is being observed. According to current data, heat waves, droughts and heavy rain are increasing significantly.

Climate change as a man-made phenomenon

Comprehensive scientific reports confirm that human activities are the main cause of climate change. The IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), which includes several working groups and around 10,000 pages, is more detailed than its predecessor from 2014. It describes climate change as irreversible and man-made. Global surface temperature during 2011-2020 was 1.1°C above 1850-1900 levels. This is another worrying aspect, as greenhouse gas emissions have increased over the last decade, particularly CO2, CH4 and N2O, as reported by the Federal Environment Agency.

Particularly alarming are the social inequalities that are being exacerbated by climate change. The richest 10% of households contribute 34-45% of global greenhouse gas emissions, underscoring the need to embed social justice in climate policy. The projected rise in sea level by 2100, between 0.28 and 1.01 m, will also affect not only ecosystems, but also water and energy supplies as well as food security.

Urgent need for action

The current climate policy arrangement falls short of the goals of the Paris Agreement. The forecasts show that without urgent measures, the probability of exceeding the 1.5°C limit by 2100 is at least 50%. Scenarios with high greenhouse gas emissions suggest drastic warming of up to 3.2 °C by 2100, which poses large-scale risks.

Given this challenging situation, scientists and environmental activists are calling for more decisive policies. The climate fact paper and the IPCC reports make it clear that existing climate protection instruments should not be questioned, but rather that a broad transformation of the energy system is required. A sustainable society requires investments in climate-friendly technologies and infrastructure as well as a comprehensive adaptation strategy to mitigate the increasingly noticeable impacts of climate change. The need for action is clear: it is time to put words into action.