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The study concludes that the June 2019 heat wave in France was made at least five times more likely due to human-induced climate change. Observational data suggests a much higher increase in probability and a temperature rise of approximately 4ºC compared to a century ago, though climate models generally show lower trends and systematic biases in representing heat wave variability.

The document explains how 'attribution' studies determine if global warming increased the likelihood or intensity of a specific extreme weather event. It warns journalists against three common errors: ignoring climate change, claiming it caused an event without evidence, or treating it as the sole cause. The guide provides specific findings for heatwaves, floods, tropical cyclones, heavy snowfall, droughts, and wildfires, noting that while heatwaves are globally linked to warming, other phenomena like droughts and floods vary significantly by region.

The document serves as a journalistic guide to 'event attribution', the scientific method used to determine if and to what extent climate change influenced a specific extreme weather event. It warns against common reporting errors—such as ignoring climate change, claiming it as the sole cause without evidence, or over-caution in reporting heatwaves—and provides specific scientific guidance on heatwaves, floods, droughts, wildfires, tropical cyclones, and heavy snowfall.

The document explains the methodology of extreme event attribution, which determines how much human-induced climate change has influenced the probability or intensity of a specific weather event. It provides a detailed breakdown of different types of extreme events—heatwaves, floods, tropical storms, snowfall, droughts, and wildfires—outlining where scientific confidence in climate links is high and where it remains uncertain. The guide emphasizes that while climate change influences the likelihood and severity of events, local vulnerabilities and human management often determine whether an event becomes a disaster.

The document explains the science of 'extreme event attribution,' which calculates how much climate change increases the probability or intensity of specific weather events. It warns journalists against three common errors: ignoring climate links, asserting links without evidence, or citing climate change as the sole cause. The guide provides specific scientific consensus and attribution examples for heatwaves, floods, tropical cyclones, heavy snow, droughts, and wildfires, emphasizing that while some events (like heatwaves) have a very strong global link to warming, others (like droughts or cyclones) are more complex and vary by region.

The document argues that limiting global warming to 1.5°C is critical to avoid severe impacts, noting that the world is already 1.1°C warmer than pre-industrial levels. It compares the risks of 1.5°C versus 2°C warming across several metrics: sea level rise (1.5 feet vs 1.8 feet by 2100), coral reef degradation (70% vs virtually all), and human exposure to extreme heat waves (1 billion vs 2.7 billion people every 5 years). It also highlights increased flood risks and habitat loss for insects, plants, and vertebrates. To combat this, the text advocates for a transition to 100% clean energy in buildings, the electrification of transport, and sustainable agricultural practices.

Australia is experiencing a catastrophic bushfire season driven by record temperatures and drought, with over 10 million hectares burned as of January 11. The fires have caused significant human casualties, destroyed thousands of homes, and led to the predicted death of billions of animals, including over 50% of the koala population on Kangaroo Island. WWF is responding by providing urgent care for injured wildlife, implementing science-based habitat restoration, and working with Indigenous and rural communities to improve future fire response and resiliency based on climate science.