Editorial | Global effort needed to beat climate crisis
- Individuals and countries can do only so much on their own as the weather turns weirder by the day. Only by working together can the world hope to make a significant and much needed difference
The weather extremes scientists contend will increase in frequency, intensity and duration as a result of climate change have been especially noticeable in China in recent weeks.
Southern regions have been inundated by the worst floods in 60 years while provinces north of the Yangtze River have scorched under heatwaves and drought-like conditions.
The unusually hot temperatures so early in the year are part of a global trend, starting at the north and south poles in March, continuing in South Asia in May and now striking western Europe and North America.
Until carbon emissions are significantly reduced, the severity will worsen and spread.
01:42
Mass evacuations as record rainfall and floods batter southern China
Heavy rain is normal in southern China in early June, but this year precipitation has been the highest since 1961 in Guangdong, Fujian and Guangxi.
