{"id":14220,"date":"2022-12-29T07:53:16","date_gmt":"2022-12-29T15:53:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/?p=14220"},"modified":"2022-12-29T07:53:16","modified_gmt":"2022-12-29T15:53:16","slug":"theres-no-such-thing-as-freak-weather-any-more-and-2023-already-looks-like-a-disaster-movie-the-guardian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/?p=14220","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;There\u2019s no such thing as \u2018freak\u2019 weather any more \u2013 and 2023 already looks like a disaster movie&#8221;, The Guardian"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/profile\/johnvidal\" rel=\"author\" data-link-name=\"auto tag link\">John Vidal<\/a>, London, 29 December 2022<\/p>\n<aside class=\"dcr-1rbr3jc\" data-gu-name=\"meta\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1yi1cnj\" data-gu-name=\"standfirst\">\n<div class=\" dcr-ysrxk6\">\n<p>As Storm Elliott rages and 2022 is declared the UK\u2019s warmest year yet, why are leaders still<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/commentisfree\/2022\/dec\/29\/no-such-thing-freak-weather-2023-storm-elliott\"> in denial about extreme weather<\/a>?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-6ufhd0\" data-gu-name=\"media\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-ubxqwv\">\n<figure id=\"e80bf454-76c8-486f-a6c9-3202daea1c50\" class=\"dcr-142siv7\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><picture class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/66cda6395d326c7cfa102c244eb12008d771460c\/0_43_7728_4637\/master\/7728.jpg?width=620&amp;quality=45&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=none\" media=\"(min-width: 980px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 980px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/66cda6395d326c7cfa102c244eb12008d771460c\/0_43_7728_4637\/master\/7728.jpg?width=620&amp;quality=85&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none\" media=\"(min-width: 980px)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/66cda6395d326c7cfa102c244eb12008d771460c\/0_43_7728_4637\/master\/7728.jpg?width=700&amp;quality=45&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=none\" media=\"(min-width: 740px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 740px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/66cda6395d326c7cfa102c244eb12008d771460c\/0_43_7728_4637\/master\/7728.jpg?width=700&amp;quality=85&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none\" media=\"(min-width: 740px)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/66cda6395d326c7cfa102c244eb12008d771460c\/0_43_7728_4637\/master\/7728.jpg?width=620&amp;quality=45&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=none\" media=\"(min-width: 660px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 660px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/66cda6395d326c7cfa102c244eb12008d771460c\/0_43_7728_4637\/master\/7728.jpg?width=620&amp;quality=85&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none\" media=\"(min-width: 660px)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/66cda6395d326c7cfa102c244eb12008d771460c\/0_43_7728_4637\/master\/7728.jpg?width=645&amp;quality=45&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=none\" media=\"(min-width: 480px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 480px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/66cda6395d326c7cfa102c244eb12008d771460c\/0_43_7728_4637\/master\/7728.jpg?width=645&amp;quality=85&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none\" media=\"(min-width: 480px)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/66cda6395d326c7cfa102c244eb12008d771460c\/0_43_7728_4637\/master\/7728.jpg?width=465&amp;quality=45&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=none\" media=\"(min-width: 320px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 320px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/66cda6395d326c7cfa102c244eb12008d771460c\/0_43_7728_4637\/master\/7728.jpg?width=465&amp;quality=85&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none\" media=\"(min-width: 320px)\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/66cda6395d326c7cfa102c244eb12008d771460c\/0_43_7728_4637\/master\/7728.jpg?width=465&amp;quality=85&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none\" alt=\"Pedestrians walk past workers attempting to repair a water line in Buffalo, New York, on 26 December 2022.\" width=\"465\" height=\"279\" \/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"dcr-1d1r6yi\"><span class=\"dcr-1hawncp\">\u2018Storm Elliott in the US was remarkable chiefly for its continental scale, lightning speed and intensity.\u2019<\/span> Photograph: Joed Viera\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-ch7w1w\" data-gu-name=\"body\">\n<div class=\"dcr-i7zira\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-1tbm7dz\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector  dcr-1vqv39r\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1bfjmfh\"><span class=\"dcr-1y9qb16\"><span class=\"dcr-8l7iat\">T<\/span><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1bfjmfh\">he 2004 film The Day After Tomorrow was based on the idea that the main north Atlantic Ocean current could slow and then reverse, superstorms would flash-freeze the northern hemisphere and a new ice age would abruptly descend. It was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/reviews\/the-day-after-tomorrow-2004\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">dismissed <\/a>as \u201cprofoundly silly\u201d, \u201ca <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rottentomatoes.com\/m\/day_after_tomorrow\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">ludicrous popcorn thriller<\/a>\u201d informed by \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/film\/2004\/may\/14\/climatechange\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">lousy science<\/a>\u201d, and some scientists <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedaily.com\/releases\/2004\/05\/040512044611.htm\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">argued<\/a> it depicted meteorological phenomena \u201cas occurring over days, instead of decades or centuries\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1bfjmfh\">Storm Elliott, the \u201cbomb cyclone\u201d that hit the US over the holidays, should have made some of those critics uncomfortable. Temperatures in places plunged in just a few minutes as one of the greatest North American storms <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/temperature-wyoming-drops-40-degrees-half-hour-wind-chills-freeze-us-break-records\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">ever recorded<\/a> swept down from the Arctic to Mexico, sometimes at hurricane speed. It brought death, chaos and misery for tens of millions of people.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1bfjmfh\">Fierce Christmas storms and bomb cyclones are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.weather.gov\/cle\/xmas1983blizzard\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">not that unusual<\/a> in the US but Elliott was remarkable chiefly for its continental scale, lightning speed and intensity. Scientists have yet to calculate the degree to which it might be linked to human actions and increased CO2 levels, but it clearly fits the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ipcc.ch\/srocc\/chapter\/chapter-6\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">IPCC\u2019s widely predicted pattern<\/a> of climate intensification and unprecedented global heat, cold and atmospheric turbulence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1bfjmfh\">Less noticed than Storm Elliott but possibly just as significant were the disastrous Christmas <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2022\/dec\/28\/philippines-searches-for-survivors-after-dozens-killed-in-floods-and-landslides\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">floods in the Philippines<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/americas\/flooding-southern-brazil-strands-hundreds-some-rescued-by-helicopter-2022-12-01\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Brazil<\/a>, and the worryingly warm holiday period experienced across much of Europe in the past 10 days. Temperatures of more than 26C were recorded in France, Spain and Italy, with many Alpine ski resorts closed for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/news\/2022\/12\/27\/rain-stops-play-alps-lack-snow-closes-half-french-ski-resorts\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">lack of snow<\/a> as rain fell and temperatures climbed 15C above normal. Traditionally, it\u2019s Australians who spend Christmas on the beach. Soon it might be anyone.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1bfjmfh\"><button class=\"dcr-savknz\" data-cy=\"youtube-overlay-AelAHgstleU-9377a7b8-ade8-4fe3-904f-86d204d1bd7b\" data-testid=\"youtube-overlay-AelAHgstleU-9377a7b8-ade8-4fe3-904f-86d204d1bd7b\"><picture><source srcset=\"\" media=\"(-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-resolution: 120dpi)\" sizes=\"(min-width: 660px) 620px, 100vw\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/media.guim.co.uk\/6dbcedc240aed03b2d275023e232ed161f0f7c8f\/0_0_1920_1080\/1000.jpg 1000w,https:\/\/media.guim.co.uk\/6dbcedc240aed03b2d275023e232ed161f0f7c8f\/0_0_1920_1080\/500.jpg 500w,https:\/\/media.guim.co.uk\/6dbcedc240aed03b2d275023e232ed161f0f7c8f\/0_0_1920_1080\/140.jpg 140w,https:\/\/media.guim.co.uk\/6dbcedc240aed03b2d275023e232ed161f0f7c8f\/0_0_1920_1080\/1920.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 660px) 620px, 100vw\" \/><img class=\"dcr-hfuyvs\" alt=\"The footage that captures how dangerously cold it is in the US right now \u2013 video report\" width=\"460\" height=\"259\" \/><\/picture><\/button><\/p>\n<figure id=\"9377a7b8-ade8-4fe3-904f-86d204d1bd7b\" class=\" dcr-173mewl\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.YoutubeBlockElement\"><figcaption class=\"dcr-1w8y9e1\"><span class=\"dcr-1hawncp\">The footage that captures how dangerously cold it is in the US right now \u2013 video report<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1bfjmfh\">The cyclone bomb rounded off a year that rewrote climate history. It was not just one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.metoffice.gov.uk\/about-us\/press-office\/news\/weather-and-climate\/2022\/2022-provisionally-warmest-year-on-record-for-uk\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">hottest years on record<\/a>, but also one of the driest in many countries, with nearly every week bringing some new climate-related disaster. Starting with Storm Eunice in February, which battered northern Europe, immense floods, droughts and storms hit Pakistan, India, China, Australia, southern Africa and the US. Crops failed in unprecedented heatwaves and hundreds of thousands of people were made homeless in both rich and poor countries. Temperature records stretching back hundreds of years were broken in the UK, Italy, France and Spain.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1bfjmfh\">Next year is widely predicted by meteorologists to bring more of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.metoffice.gov.uk\/about-us\/press-office\/news\/weather-and-climate\/2022\/2023-global-temperature-forecast\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">same intensification<\/a> of weather. The Met Office says 2022 will be the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/uk-news\/2022\/dec\/28\/2022-will-be-warmest-year-on-record-in-uk-says-met-office\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">newest warmest year<\/a> on record. Greenland\u2019s glaciers have been found to be melting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/environment\/article\/greeland-ice-melting-four-times-faster-than-thought-raising-sea-level\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">far faster<\/a> than previously thought, heatwaves are becoming <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucl.ac.uk\/news\/headlines\/2022\/jul\/heatwaves-likely-be-more-common-future\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">more common<\/a>and storms are expected to become <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bostonglobe.com\/2021\/09\/15\/opinion\/hurricane-ida-was-shot-across-earths-bow\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">more powerful<\/a> as the oceans continue to warm.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-slot-container \">\n<p class=\"dcr-1bfjmfh\">But while 2022 may have been the year that more people than ever experienced what used to be termed \u201cfreak\u201d weather, it was yet another year lost when it comes to governments acting. What Storm Elliott and all the droughts, floods and extreme climate events show is that we are physically, mentally and financially unprepared for what is certain to come. Christian Aid this week estimated that 2022\u2019s 10 worst climate disasters alone <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irishexaminer.com\/news\/arid-41036261.html\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">cost more than $165bn<\/a>, but that is likely to be nothing if action to adapt our infrastructure and economies is not taken urgently.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"324cca25-86bd-42fb-9ac2-f4a71cb912e2\" class=\" dcr-11ra563\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\">\n<div class=\"css-1af0gwb\" data-print-layout=\"hide\" data-link-name=\"rich-link-8 | 8\" data-component=\"rich-link\" data-name=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1bfjmfh\">Even as Storm Elliott devastated parts of the US, it must have occurred to many governments in the rich northern hemisphere that the climate crisis is helping to supercharge the weather and that something similar or worse could just as easily happen in their countries.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-slot-container ad-slot-container-2 offset-right ad-slot--offset-right ad-slot-container--offset-right\">\n<div id=\"dfp-ad--inline2\" class=\"js-ad-slot ad-slot ad-slot--inline ad-slot--inline2 ad-slot--rendered\" data-link-name=\"ad slot inline2\" data-name=\"inline2\" data-google-query-id=\"CI7-4NCWn_wCFfDl_QUdBBQM0w\" data-label-show=\"true\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"dcr-1bfjmfh\">But the rich world has utterly failed to adapt to the changes taking place, and it will now cost far more than it need have done. Only a handful of countries \u2013 mostly those on the frontline of climate chaos like Bangladesh \u2013 have even begun to try to adapt to the approaching chaos and tragedy. Cop27 in Egypt may have finally launched a global loss and damage fund to help poor nations adapt, but no money has been pledged and, judging from experience, is likely to come soon.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1bfjmfh\">All we know is that major adverse weather events such as Elliott are likely to grow in number, scale and frequency. That means big decisions must be taken now on how to adapt our investments, housing, farming, food, transport, health and energy systems.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1bfjmfh\">Governments cannot avoid the climate crisis any longer. We must become accustomed to this new reality and be prepared. We have no choice now; everything must change.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"dcr-1bfjmfh\">\n<li>John Vidal was the Guardian\u2019s environment editor. He is the author of McLibel: Burger Culture on Trial<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>John Vidal, London, 29 December 2022 As Storm Elliott rages and 2022 is declared the UK\u2019s warmest year yet, why are leaders still in denial about extreme weather? \u2018Storm Elliott in the US was remarkable chiefly for its continental scale, lightning speed and intensity.\u2019 Photograph: Joed Viera\/AFP\/Getty Images The 2004 film The Day After Tomorrow [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1001004,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14220"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1001004"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14220"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14220\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14221,"href":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14220\/revisions\/14221"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14220"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14220"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14220"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}