People Exposed to Climate Change: December 2024-February 2025

The report finds that human-caused climate change significantly increased extreme heat and health risks globally from December 2024 to February 2025. At least 1.8 billion people experienced temperatures at least twice as likely due to climate change every day of the period, with exposure peaking at 3 billion people on February 28, 2025. Africa was particularly affected, with 293 million people experiencing 30 or more 'risky heat days' added by climate change. The analysis also highlights that 110 out of 220 analyzed countries and 287 out of 940 cities saw the average person experience strong climate influence for at least one-third of the season.

• Between December 1, 2024, and February 28, 2025, at least 1.8 billion people, or 22% of the global population, experienced temperatures at CSI level 2 or higher (meaning they were at least twice as likely because of climate change) every single day. This exposure reached a peak on February 28, 2025, affecting 3 billion people, or 37% of the global population.
• Human-induced climate change added five risky heat days to the average person's experience globally during the three-month period; without climate change, the average person would have experienced only one risky heat day. Over 394 million people experienced 30 or more risky heat days added by climate change, with 74% of those people (293 million) living in Africa.
• In 50% of the 220 analyzed countries, the average person experienced temperatures with a strong climate change influence (CSI level 2 or higher) for at least 30 days. Regional data shows that 84% of people in South America and 69% of people in Africa experienced at least 30 days at CSI level 2.
• Analysis of 940 global cities shows that in 287 of them, the average person experienced a strong climate change influence for 30 days or more. Among 38 megacities (populations over 10 million), 11 cities—representing over 210 million people—endured CSI level 2 heat for at least one-third of the season.
• In the United States, 110 out of 247 analyzed cities (approximately 45%) had average temperatures that were normal or warmer-than-normal. Additionally, 194 U.S. cities experienced at least one day at CSI level 2, and 14 cities—mostly in western regions—experienced at least 21 days at CSI level 2.
• The period saw extreme weather events globally: South America had heat waves and wildfires in Chile and Patagonia, and catastrophic flooding in Brazil; North America experienced deadly wildfires in California and a once-in-a-lifetime winter storm in New Orleans; Eastern Africa faced deadly cyclones (Chido and Dikeledi); Europe had one of its warmest winters on record and severe storms (Éowyn and Herminia); and Asia saw fatal rainfall and cyclones (Fengal).

APA

Giguere, J., Trudeau, K., DeFonza, R., Tannenbaum, A., Dahl, K., Veitch, A., & Martin, M. (2025). People Exposed to Climate Change: December 2024-February 2025. Climate Central. https://assets.ctfassets.net/cxgxgstp8r5d/6hUuAna5t65LBwxT5YJhVn/abd5f2a80bc8f6a0e716612e17be257f/Report__People_Exposed_to_Climate_Change__Dec_2024-Feb_2025.pdf

Chicago

Giguere, Joseph, Kaitlyn Trudeau, Raina DeFonza, Arielle Tannenbaum, Kristina Dahl, Abbie Veitch, and Megan Martin. People Exposed to Climate Change: December 2024-February 2025. Climate Central, 2025. https://assets.ctfassets.net/cxgxgstp8r5d/6hUuAna5t65LBwxT5YJhVn/abd5f2a80bc8f6a0e716612e17be257f/Report__People_Exposed_to_Climate_Change__Dec_2024-Feb_2025.pdf.

Wikipedia

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BibTeX

@techreport{giguere2025people, author = {Giguere, Joseph and Trudeau, Kaitlyn and DeFonza, Raina and Tannenbaum, Arielle and Dahl, Kristina and Veitch, Abbie and Martin, Megan}, title = {{People Exposed to Climate Change: December 2024-February 2025}}, institution = {Climate Central}, year = {2025}, month = mar, url = {https://assets.ctfassets.net/cxgxgstp8r5d/6hUuAna5t65LBwxT5YJhVn/abd5f2a80bc8f6a0e716612e17be257f/Report__People_Exposed_to_Climate_Change__Dec_2024-Feb_2025.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }