Researchers and scientists are relentlessly studying the damage caused by climate change-both present and future. Their findings are deeply alarming, yet the world's governments and leaders continue to ignore their warnings and recommendations. Instead of taking steps to prevent these looming disasters, humanity is moving closer to a dark and uncertain future where climate change threatens not only humans but also 18,000 species across the planet.
The devastating impacts of climate change are already visible in many parts of the world. In the United States, Texas has been ravaged by catastrophic floods, while Europe faces relentless heatwaves. France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, the UK, Turkey, and at least 15 other countries have issued maximum-level heat alerts. In France, 16 regions are already under "red alert," with authorities warning that the heatwave could become even more intense and prolonged. Paris and its surrounding areas are under the highest emergency alert, while 68 regions are on "orange alert." The French Climate Ministry described this as an "unprecedented" weather situation.
Meanwhile, wildfires have engulfed southern Corbières in France, forcing evacuations and closing major motorways. In Turkey's Izmir region, flames-fueled by 120 km/h winds-have destroyed at least 20 homes and forced 50,000 people to flee. Coastal areas of Croatia, Montenegro, Greece, and Serbia are also under red alerts. Around Athens, wildfires have forced mass evacuations.
In Germany, temperatures are nearing 40°C, causing the Rhine River's water levels to drop dangerously, disrupting cargo transport and increasing costs. In the Adriatic Sea, poisonous lionfish are appearing, while glaciers are melting at alarming rates.
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk warned: "Heatwaves are threatening our rights to life, health, and a safe environment. We must reduce fossil fuel use now." Climate scientists agree, stating that the growing concentration of greenhouse gases is causing the planet to retain excessive heat, triggering deadly heatwaves.
Elsewhere, the world's largest inland lake-the Caspian Sea-is drying up rapidly. In Kazakhstan's Aktau city, residents report the shoreline has retreated by nearly 100 meters. Environmentalists warn that if this continues, by the end of this century, the Caspian Sea could lose up to 18 meters of water depth and about 34% of its surface area.
Research also shows that the planet is heading toward extreme water scarcity. Within just a decade, the world could see its first completely waterless modern city. Scientists warn that by 2030, Kabul, Afghanistan-home to six million people-could become the first major city to run out of water entirely. Unregulated extraction of groundwater has already lowered water tables in Kabul by 25-30 meters over the last decade. This could force millions to abandon the city.
In addition to these crises, scientists warn that Earth's tectonic movements may one day split the African continent into two, creating a new ocean. This slow "plate tectonic movement" has already begun-evidenced by a massive 56 km-long rift in Ethiopia's Afar region in 2005.
Another grave threat is the potential collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a crucial ocean current system that regulates global climate. Research by Dr. René van Westen of Utrecht University warns that if AMOC shuts down completely, Europe could face severe winters even in a warming world.
Under moderate global warming (2°C above pre-industrial levels), AMOC collapse could trigger extreme cold in Europe: London's average winter temperatures could drop by 1.9°C, with rare extreme lows reaching -19.3°C once a decade; Edinburgh could experience lows of -29.7°C, while Oslo could plunge to -48°C during severe winters and Sea ice could extend to the coasts of Great Britain and Scandinavia, intensifying regional cold.
Summer temperatures would still remain higher than pre-industrial levels, creating extreme seasonal contrasts. Climate scientist Tim Lenton of Exeter University explained: "It would feel like an ice age in winter and like stepping from a freezer into an oven in summer."
If global warming exceeds 4°C by 2100, AMOC collapse would no longer mitigate warming. Europe would still heat up, but slower than other regions, with no significant ice buildup. The AMOC collapse would have global repercussions-weakening monsoons in India and West Africa, disrupting rainfall patterns in the Amazon, and altering tropical precipitation cycles.
At the same time, geopolitical and economic failures worsen the crisis. While developing nations push for renewable energy financing, many wealthy countries continue approving new oil and gas projects despite pledges at the COP28 summit to phase out fossil fuels. A report by Oil Change International revealed that the U.S., Canada, Norway, and Australia are responsible for 70% of proposed new oil and gas projects for 2025-2035.
Romain Ioualalen, head of global policy at Oil Change International, condemned this hypocrisy: "It's shameful that the countries most responsible for the climate crisis are still expanding fossil fuel production, endangering countless lives and livelihoods."
At recent UN climate meetings in Bonn, developing nations demanded urgent climate financing to mitigate disasters and reduce emissions. Experts proposed using government-backed development banks to buy out "green loans" for renewable energy projects, thereby attracting more private investment and unlocking billions for global climate finance.
Meanwhile, climate advocates urge governments to rapidly reduce fossil fuel use and channel public funds into renewable energy innovation. Avinash Persaud, climate adviser to the Inter-American Development Bank, believes such initiatives could attract tens of billions of dollars in green investments within a few years, helping meet the promised $1.3 trillion annual climate finance for developing nations by 2035. Persaud argues: "This could become the engine of green growth and open the door to the trillions needed for a sustainable future."
But time is running out. Scientists warn that unless the world takes swift, unified action, climate change will trigger chain reactions leading to catastrophic biodiversity loss, massive displacement of populations, and irreversible damage to the planet's life-support systems.Humanity-and 18,000 species-stand on the edge of an unprecedented crisis. The only way forward is urgent global action.
The writer is a journalist and General Secretary of the Bangladesh Climate Change Journalists' Forum
