The world is experiencing record heat – this is why it’s about to get worse

The climate crisis is already displacing millions of people from their homes as they seek to escape extreme weather events, desertification and drought, writes Alicja Hagopian. With Donald Trump ordering billions of dollars of cuts to climate aid projects, the poorest and most vulnerable countries face even greater risks

The landmark 2015 Paris Climate Agreement was supposed to be a turning point in the fight against global warming. The historic treaty saw nearly 200 countries commit to limit increases in temperature to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.

Yet in 2024, the global average temperature was already up by 1.6C, shattering the recommended ceiling in less than a decade, and increasing the risk of extreme weather events, drought and wildfire.

Cover photo:  Donald Trump has ordered aid cuts to projects designed to tackle the climate crisis