How to live with extreme weather
Today, many people think extreme weather is just a rare storm or a “strange” hot day. But this is not rare anymore. This is our new life: heatwaves that last for weeks, floods after every rain, and long droughts. These things are not happening “somewhere else”—they happen to us every day. They affect our farms, our health, and our lives.
Why is this happening?
Our planet is getting warmer because of greenhouse gases. This changes the air and the oceans. Warm air can hold more water and more energy. This means we have stronger storms, more rain, and longer heatwaves.
How this affects us:
- health – heatwaves are dangerous. people can get sick, especially old people and those who are already ill
- food and farming – When the weather changes, crops do not grow well. Then, food becomes more expensive
- buildings and roads – Floods and storms can break roads, bridges, and houses.
- money – every year, these problems cost a lot of money. It hurts tourism and costs a lot to fix things
Extreme weather is a big problem now. It is happening everywhere.
How to adapt – what we can really do
We need to know how to live with this now.
1. Local help – in many places, people are building warning systems. They plant more trees to keep cities cool. These are simple things we can do right now.
2. New ways of farming – farmers are choosing plants that can live without much water. They are using old ways of farming to keep the ground healthy.
3. Better cities – cities need more parks and green roofs to soak up rain. We need plans to stay safe and keep public places cool.
What you and I can do?
You can also help:
- follow the weather forecast and warnings
- make sure your house is cool during hot days
- learn what to do in a disaster and have a plan
- talk to your neighbors. When we work together, we are safer
Extreme weather is not a mistake. It is happening because of climate change. We must change how we live to protect people and nature. It starts where we live.
Author: Zoran Pavletić
As an ambassador of the European Climate Pact, I want to say that the opinions in this article are only mine and do not necessarily represent the official view of the European Commission or the European Climate Pact. – Zoran Pavletić
