6. Climate change has increased extreme weather events; record-shattering heat waves will become far more likely; and tropical cyclones may occur over a wider range of latitudes

Extreme weather events in 2021 shattered records around the globe. For example, Winter Storm Uri brought historic cold weather to many parts of North America, while heat waves occurred in various countries and regions.

A study by researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology suggested that the world can expect more extreme heat waves in the future, unless drastic action is taken to curb climate change. They found weeklong record-breaking heat events were up to seven times more likely to occur from 2021 to 2050. From 2051 to 2080, these events were up to 21 more times likely to occur and could happen every six to 37 years somewhere in the northern midlatitudes.

Meanwhile, a Yale-led study suggested that tropical cyclones will likely occur over a wider range of latitudes in the 21st century than has been the case on Earth during the last 3 million years. Hurricane Henri, which made landfall in the eastern U.S. state of Connecticut last year, may be a harbinger of future storms.