Climate Crisis: Torrential Rains Devastate Central Europe

Storm Boris, which violently hit much of Central Europe between 12 and 15 September 2024, left an indelible trail of destruction. This meteorological episode, marked by unprecedented torrential rains, has caused the death of 24 people, affected more than two million citizens and caused multimillion-dollar damage to infrastructure and homes. Countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Germany, Slovakia and Romania have been the most affected, facing a crisis that has not only hit their territory, but also their economies and the daily lives of millions of people.

The intensity and magnitude of this meteorological event is not a coincidence. Scientists point directly to climate change as the main cause of the increase in the frequency and violence of phenomena like this. A recent report by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) network reveals that the climate crisis has made storms of this nature 50% more likely and at least 7% more intense. Behind this impact are mainly greenhouse gas emissions derived from the burning of fossil fuels.

The Perfect Storm: An Unprecedented Event

What makes this phenomenon so alarming is that it is not an isolated event. The combination of atmospheric factors, such as cold air moving over the Alps and warm air in the Mediterranean and Black Sea, created a “perfect” storm that dumped torrents of water on vast regions of Central Europe. Scientists have called this episode the most intense ever recorded, warning that episodes like Boris will become even more frequent and intense in the future as global temperatures continue to rise.

This analysis was supported by a team of 24 researchers from several countries, who conclude that if global warming reaches 2 degrees Celsius, something that according to projections could occur in the next three decades, phenomena of this type will increase by 50% in frequency and 5% in intensity. These data show that climate change is not just a crisis of temperatures, but is reshaping the behavior of the climate in a dangerous way.

Human and Economic Consequences

The human impact of these torrential rains is immense. In addition to the 24 fatalities, millions of people have been displaced, losing their homes and livelihoods. Affected towns and cities have seen their infrastructure collapse: dams overflowing, rivers bursting their banks, transport routes disrupted and power grids devastated. The European Commission has pledged € 10 billion to help with recovery, but this amount does not cover the emotional toll or the lives lost.

These storms, like many others, reveal the vulnerability of modern societies to extreme weather events. They not only affect physical infrastructure, but also paralyse economies and undermine efforts to ensure a sustainable future. The floods in Central Europe have made clear the fragility of rural and urban communities in the face of increasingly frequent climate disasters.

Responsibility for Global Warming

It is impossible to separate what has happened from humanity's responsibility for global warming. Greenhouse gas emissions, fuelled mainly by the use of fossil fuels, have transformed the planet's climate system. According to the latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), not only are temperatures rising at an alarming rate, but so is the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.

Joyce Kimutai, a researcher at Imperial College London and co-author of the WWA report, made it clear: “Until oil, gas and coal are replaced by renewables, storms like Boris will unleash even more intense rainfall, causing flooding that will cripple the economy.” The need for an urgent transition to clean and sustainable energy is clear, but big oil companies continue to make extraordinary profits at the expense of the planet.

"Until oil, gas and coal are replaced by renewables, storms like Boris will unleash even more intense rainfall, causing flooding that will cripple the economy."

Activists like Ian Duff of Greenpeace point the finger directly at these corporations as the “villains” behind this crisis. While companies like Total, Shell and OMV are recording record profits, ordinary citizens in countries like Austria, Poland or Hungary are left to bear the costs of climate disasters.

What Can Be Done?

While the climate crisis is global, solutions must start at local, regional and national levels. One of the most important lessons from Boris’s floods is the importance of preparedness . Early warning systems, improved resilient infrastructure and urban planning can significantly mitigate the impact of these phenomena.

Compared to similar events in 1997 and 2002, the number of deaths from Storm Boris was considerably lower, demonstrating that investments in forecasting systems and rapid action plans are saving lives. However, the WWA report stresses that much remains to be done, especially in terms of prevention.

It is essential that governments and multilateral institutions not only focus on recovery, but also on preventing future disasters. It is urgent to design plans that include strategies to address climate change in a comprehensive manner, from reducing emissions to improving urban and rural infrastructure. In addition, coordination between countries will be essential to confront this global threat.

Compared to similar events in 1997 and 2002, the number of deaths from Storm Boris was considerably lower, demonstrating that investments in forecasting systems and rapid action plans are saving lives.

An Uncertain Future

What happened in Central Europe is just a hint of what is to come. Extreme weather events are here to stay, and the global community must act decisively and urgently if we are to prevent them from becoming the new normal. The climate crisis reminds us that there are no borders when it comes to extreme weather events. Actions (or inactions) today will have consequences that will reverberate for generations.

While advances in technology and science allow us to be better prepared to face storms like Boris, the reality is that without a profound change in how we manage the climate crisis, these episodes will continue to claim lives, destroy economies and endanger the future of the planet. The question that remains to be answered is: are we prepared to face this storm that is silently but relentlessly reshaping our world?