“Human-Caused Global Heating Made UK and Ireland’s Never-Ending Rain 10 Times More Likely – Study Reveals Devastating Impact”
A recent study has found that the heavy rainfall that plagued the UK and Ireland last autumn and winter was exacerbated by human-caused global heating. The study, conducted by climate scientists as part of the World Weather Attribution group, revealed that the relentless rain was made 10 times more likely and 20% wetter due to the effects of climate change.
Between October and March, more than a dozen storms swept through the region, resulting in the second-wettest period in nearly two centuries. The continuous downpour led to severe floods, claiming at least 20 lives, causing extensive damage to homes and infrastructure, power outages, travel disruptions, and significant losses in crops and livestock.
The analysis showed that the level of rainfall brought by these storms would have only occurred once every 50 years without the influence of the climate crisis. However, with global heating reaching 1.2C in recent years, such extreme wet weather events are now expected every five years. If urgent action is not taken to reduce fossil fuel emissions and global temperatures rise to 2C in the next decade or two, these severe weather events could occur every three years on average.
The experts behind the study emphasized the urgent need for better preparedness and adaptation measures to protect the populations of the UK and Ireland. They highlighted the disproportionate impact on vulnerable communities, where some individuals could not afford to replace losses from flooded homes or power outages.
The study specifically looked at storms Babet, Ciarán, Henk, and Isha, which were among the most damaging. An additional analysis from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit estimated that the heavy rainfall resulted in approximately £1.2bn in losses for arable crop farmers in the UK alone.
Dr. Ellie Murtagh, the UK climate adaptation lead at the British Red Cross, emphasized the long-lasting effects of flooding on individuals and communities. She noted that weather-related home insurance claims in the UK had risen significantly, with many people unable to afford insurance coverage.
Despite the clear evidence linking the extreme weather events to climate change, UK ministers have faced criticism for their inadequate plans to protect against the impacts of global heating. Experts have condemned the government’s recent climate adaptation plan as “very weak,” highlighting the lack of progress in implementing necessary interventions.
Dr. Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London and co-founder of WWA, emphasized the need for urgent action to address climate change. She called for a transition to cleaner, renewable energy sources, improved home insulation, and the restoration of nature to mitigate the impacts of climate change and create a more sustainable future for all.