The Philippines is facing a growing risk of severe tropical storms due to climate change. Rising temperatures are nearly doubling the chances of deadly typhoons in the region, according to a recent report by scientists published on Thursday.
Last month, the country experienced an unusual formation of four typhoons. Researchers from the World Weather Attribution group revealed that this occurrence was 70% more likely due to a global temperature increase of 1.3 degrees Celsius (2.3 degrees Fahrenheit).
While scientists remain cautious about linking individual weather events directly to climate change, it is widely agreed that warmer oceans are making storms stronger. The combination of intense rainfall and faster wind speeds is becoming more common worldwide.
“Climate change made the conditions that created and fueled the typhoons nearly twice as likely,” the group noted in their findings.
Impact on the Philippines
In October and November, an unprecedented series of six tropical cyclones hit the Philippines. These storms caused the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of residents and led to the loss of more than 170 lives.
Experts believe that the warming of sea surface temperatures has turbocharged storm activity, allowing storms to develop more powerfully and reach the country with higher intensity.
Ben Clarke, a weather researcher from Imperial College London and one of the report’s authors, explained that if global temperatures rise to 2.6 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, these storm conditions would become 40% more likely.
The Role of Warmer Oceans
Research from Climate Central last month highlighted that record-breaking ocean warming has significantly intensified hurricanes, with wind speeds increasing by 18 miles per hour (29 kph). Scientists agree that warmer ocean temperatures lead to stronger tropical storms by speeding up evaporation rates.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) also emphasized in its latest report that there is “high confidence” that global warming will result in more intense storms.
What Lies Ahead
It remains uncertain whether rising temperatures will lengthen the typhoon season or make storms more frequent. However, climate activists are raising alarms.
Afrhill Rances, a representative of the Philippines’ International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, highlighted the changing landscape: “We used to have a hazard calendar, but now it feels like it’s a year-round threat.”
The Philippines’ increasing vulnerability to tropical storms is a stark reminder of the urgent need to address climate change and its global effects.
