—Golam Newaz—

The horrific scenes from uncontrolled wildfires in the Los Angeles area are a stark reminder of the price to pay as we give little attention to climate change that has caused this unthinkable destruction. Although with some respite and progress being made, the wind speed is again going to pick up this week. Neighbourhoods have been destroyed, and lives have been lost since last week. At least 25 people have died in this recent mayhem and more than 12,000 structures have been lost which includes not just homes, apartments, and businesses but also vehicles and landmarks.

The Los Angeles wildfires are on track to be the costliest in US history, with some analysts projecting economic losses of over $200 billion dollars. As of January 13, close to 100,000 people are under evacuation orders. The population is in nothing less than panic. The cost of such episodes can be measured in monetary terms as well as in terms of societal chaos and displacement of population.

The year 2024 has been the hottest in human history. The concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere has increased from pre-industrial levels in the 18th century of approximately 278 parts per million to about 420 parts per million today. NASA scientists further estimate Earth in 2024 was about 2.65 degrees Fahrenheit (1.47 degrees Celsius) warmer than the mid-19th century average (1850-1900). For more than half of 2024, average temperatures were more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above the baseline. It is likely that the annual average may have exceeded the level for the first time if mathematical uncertainties are accounted for.

What we notice is that climate change is fanning extreme weather that is growing more dangerous and more unpredictable. Wildfires are highly unusual in Southern California in winter, like in January, which is supposed to be the rainy season. Hurricanes like Helene and Milton in 2024 were furious and deadly, tearing through mountain communities, well inside the landmass in the US in October. These are larger and more powerful storms that were not seen in the past. Wildfires are hotter and moving much faster due to Santa Ana winds that sweep down the Sierra Nevada mountains in California that border Nevada. The power of the wind is enormous, and hurricane-speed wind runs through the mountain passes as they try to reach the coastline. At times, the wind exceeded 100 miles per hour. As they reach the plateau closer to the ocean, they reach warmer and drier conditions, as is the case now. Last winter, Southern California was deluged with much rain that led to extensive vegetation growth.

However, in 2025, months into what is typically the rainy season, Los Angeles is experiencing a drought. The weather has become unpredictable and difficult to deal with as uncertainties rule the day. The entire region is a tinderbox due to a dry and hotter climate, and a small fire can spread quickly and uncontrollably. This is the basis of the urban firestorm. In the last few years, the frequency of wildfires has increased, and billion-dollar losses have continued to accumulate. It is like living in a new reality for the populations on the West Coast of the United States.

Gavin Schmidt, director at NASA Goddard Institute of Space Studies (GISS), which monitors the rise in global temperatures, mentions, “We sound like a broken record but only because the records keep breaking: they will continue to break until we get emissions under control.”

Thursday, wildfires—which start from camping, transmission tower overheating, damaged wires, a downed powerline, or arson—can create havoc literally in hours. Then the weather can make it explosive. In 2018, the wealthy enclave of Montecito, California, just north of Los Angeles, experienced significant mudslides after torrential downpours fell on hills that had recently burned. So, areas losing trees and bushes can be highly prone to mudslides with heavy rain. These wildfires can further exacerbate other miseries for the population.

Floods in places like Bangladesh, hurricanes and superstorms forming in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic crossing into Florida and other states, heat waves in Africa, wildfires in Canada and the US, drought in many parts of the world, mudslides in California, and snowless winters in Michigan are examples of weather that does not conform to normal patterns. These are the growing threats of a rapidly warming world, and scientists are now in agreement that nowhere is entirely protected from the effects of climate change. Scientific data—showing that we may have crossed the threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius in 2024 with modelling uncertainty bands—is quite disturbing. Both North America and Europe have eclipsed the 1.5-degree threshold, and 2024 was the warmest year ever.

Humanity needs to put their efforts together to lessen carbon emissions in the atmosphere, which is a challenge for developing countries in reducing their emissions drastically. India ranks third in the world after China and the US for most CO2 emissions. These countries should lead by example in reducing CO2 emissions to reverse the warming trend followed by countries both in Europe and Asia. Being part of the Paris Accord is a political decision. It is unfortunate that while major disasters like LA wildfires rage, in a few days the US will drop out of the Paris Accord with Donald Trump as the new Republican president.

There is a constant challenge in our future on this planet to change the dynamics of climate change in humanity’s favour. The LA wildfires and destruction in front of our eyes are a stark reminder of our collective failure. It is time to change our course. It is never too late for us to pay heed to science and climate change. Otherwise, we are to experience more violent and destructive weather events, which can make our beautiful planet unlivable.