Linda Lorenzon (Junior Researcher G.E.O Environment)
Abstract
The Los Angeles wildfires of 2024, fuelled by climate change, extreme drought and powerful Santa Ana winds, underscore the worsening fire crisis in California. The phenomenon of ‘hydroclimatic whiplash’, driven by rising global temperatures, intensifies both drought and flooding, leading to severe environmental and human consequences. With enormous environmental damage and projected economic losses reaching trillions, urgent climate resilience and adaptation strategies are needed to implement sustainable policies and proactive actions. Incorporating scientific knowledge into policies, combating climate change denial, could be the key to avoiding unstoppable escalation.
Introduction
Wildfires are a natural part of many ecosystems. Indeed, although wildfires produce large amounts of greenhouse gases - primarily carbon dioxide - the plants that recolonise burnt areas remove carbon from the atmosphere, generally leading to a net neutral effect on climate. However, when fires burn more frequently and consume larger areas, as they are doing with climate change, the greenhouse gases released may not be completely removed from the atmosphere if plants fail to regrow to maturity before burning, which creates a vicious cycle (C2ES “Wildfires and Climate Change”).
Climate change has been a key element in the increased risk and extent of wildfires in the western United States. This threat depends on a number of factors, including temperature, soil moisture and the presence of trees with high combustible potential. All of these aspects, although there are those who deny it, have strong direct or indirect links to climate change. In fact, it has increased the desiccation of organic matter in forests and doubled the number of large fires between 1984 and 2024 in the western United States. And the situation is not going to get any better. For much of the western United States, projections show that an average temperature increase of 1°C per year would rise the median area burned annually by up to 600% in some forest types (C2ES “Wildfires and Climate Change”).
Already the 2017 fire season was well above average, with deadly wildfires in California and across the West, including Montana, Oregon and Washington State. The 2018 fire season had broken the record for the deadliest and most destructive season ever recorded in California, and the total costs of these fires were estimated at over $40 billion.
Los Angeles wildfires: the 2024 season
Burning houses, scorched palm trees, landscapes of fiery red colour, alarming reports in every newspaper and social media, we all heard what happened just a month ago in California. Since January 2025, the State of California, particularly the greater Los Angeles area, has been hit by devastating wildfires, despite it being the typical wet season. As of January 14, more than 40,000 acres have burned, displaced more than 180,000 people, destroyed as many as 12,000 structures, caused damage estimated at between $250 and $275 billion and at least 25 people lost their lives (Fritz A., CNN Climate).
Many consider it the most beautiful State in the USA, thanks to a varied and beautiful landscape, with sea, mountains, desert, without considering the tourist, economic and cultural attraction of the Hollywood film industry, but California is unfortunately one of the States most at risk in the entire US. The main causes: a dry climate, little rain and particularly powerful gusts of wind. Indeed, while the exact causes of each fire are still being studied, it is already clear that several factors have contributed to their rapid spread and enormous intensity. First, the seasonal Santa Ana winds are particularly strong this year, which brings low humidity, dry air, and wind speeds to dangerous levels. Then there is the issue of rainfall, southern California has received less than 10% of its average precipitation since October 2024, thus creating drought conditions that have made the area highly vulnerable to wildfires. Additionally, the unusually wet winters of 2022-23 and 2023-24 have led to increased vegetation growth, providing additional fuel for wildfires (Kluger J., Time).
“Hydroclimatic whiplash”
All these factors already have a scientific explanation: this cycle of wet and dry extremes, known as the “hydroclimatic whiplash,” is part of the increasingly intense weather cycles caused by climate change.
The researchers say that with every degree of warming the atmosphere is able to evaporate, absorb and release 7% more water. Therefore, hydroclimate whiplash can occur almost anywhere. It can also exacerbate flooding when heavy rainfall hits dry ground, only to run off the ground instead of seeping in, leading to further flash flooding. Scientists call it an ‘expanding atmospheric sponge’ and it not only causes flooding when the situation is wet but also extracts additional moisture from plants and soils when drier conditions occur (McGrath M., BBC).
In addition to the immediate destruction and impact on the environment and wildlife, hydroclimatic whiplash has long-term human impacts, including respiratory illnesses from smoke, waterborne illnesses from floods, food insecurity, and mental health issues as well as post-traumatic stress disorder.
On the other hand, for those who put more weight on the monetary aspect, economic losses due to climate change are already projected to reach $12.5 trillion by 2050, while the health-related impacts of climate change alone are estimated $1.1 trillion by 2050 (Dinner A., The Conversation).
Whiplash’s impacts on low-income communities
Although the mentioned wildfires are affecting some of the wealthiest communities in the United States, it is generally low-income communities and vulnerable populations that are disproportionately affected. Without adequate resources to prepare for or recover from extreme events, the situation becomes drastically harsher.
An example of this was weeks of heavy rains and floods in the East African region last May 2024, which resulted in the massive relocation of hundreds of thousands of displaced persons in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Ethiopia and Tanzania. Nearly 650,000 people were affected, with 235,000 displaced as of May 3, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Indeed, “the unprecedented and devastating floods have exposed the harsh realities of climate change, claiming lives and displacing communities; as these people face the daunting task of rebuilding, their vulnerability is only increasing,” said Rana Jaber, Regional Director for East Africa and the Horn of Africa (IOM UN Migration).
The need for political action aided by science
As climate change intensifies, impacts on humans are expected to become more severe everywhere. Addressing these challenges will require coordinated efforts across multiple sectors, with a focus on mitigation and adaptation strategies to protect human health, economic stability and social equity. Governments and local authorities will have an essential role to play in mitigating drought and flood risks, while discouraging building developments (especially residential) near fire-prone forests and incorporating fire-resistant design features and materials in buildings, using the science and technology at our disposal.
In this regard, the words of the American climate scientist Jonathan Overpeck are interesting: “perhaps the most troubling aspect of our growing wildfire crisis is that we know enough to predict where, and even sometimes when, catastrophic wildfires are likely to occur. […] More attention in society needs to be placed on using our scientific knowledge to save lives, infrastructure, and livelihoods.” Especially when there are harsh images like those of the fires in L. A. that prove how climate threats are no longer about what could happen, but what is happening right now (Michigan News, University of Michigan).
In California we have seen the devastating effect of hydroclimatic storms, and it will not be the last. These dramatic fires already highlight the urgent need for long-term resilience planning. We need to ask our governments to elaborate adaptation and resilience strategies that recognise climate change as a long-term human and economic risk factor, in order to be better prepared for these events and limit their effects. (Dinner A., The Conversation).
As individuals we may often feel powerless, but environmental campaigns and movements have been very successful in changing government policies in recent years. We must not give up, despite openly denialist politicians such as the newly elected US President Donald Trump.
Conclusion
To sum up, the recent fires in California are a dire warning of the intensifying impacts of climate change. As extreme weather events become more frequent and intense, the need for proactive climate resilience and adaptation planning is undeniable and urgent. Governments must recognise climate change as a long-term threat and implement strategies that prioritise sustainability and equitable support to the most vulnerable communities. However, systemic change cannot rely on politicians alone: individuals, activists and organisations must continue to support meaningful climate action, demonstrating how everyone's contribution matters. We must not forget the choices we make today will determine the future we leave to the next generation and to this earth.
Riproduzione riservata ®
Bibliography:
Michigan News, University of Michigan, “The impact of Los Angeles wildfires: U-M experts can comment”, Jan 2025 https://news.umich.edu/the-impact-of-los-angeles-wildfires-u-m-experts-can-comment/#:~:text=Moreover%2C%20there%20has%20been%20a,seasons%20continue%20to%20get%20worse (2-B)
Fritz A., CNN Climate, “LA fires were larger and more intense because of planet-warming pollution, study suggests”, Jan 2025 https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/14/climate/los-angeles-fires-worse-global-warming/index.html (2-B)
IOM UN Migration , “Floods Displace Thousands in East Africa; IOM Calls for Sustained Efforts to Address Climate Mobility”, May 2024 https://www.iom.int/news/floods-displace-thousands-east-africa-iom-calls-sustained-efforts-address-climate-mobility (1-A)
Dinner A., The Conversation, “LA fires show human cost of climate-driven ‘whiplash’ between wet and dry extremes”, Jan 2025 https://theconversation.com/la-fires-show-the-human-cost-of-climate-driven-whiplash-between-wet-and-dry-extremes-247133 (2-B)
Kluger J., Time, “L.A. Fires Show the Reality of Living in a World with 1.5°C of Warming”, Jan 2025 https://time.com/7205644/los-angeles-california-fires-climate-change/ (1-A)
McGrath M., BBC, “Climate 'whiplash' linked to raging LA fires”, Jan 2025 https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0ewe4p9128o (2-A)
Semancik A., Ohio Today, “Wildfire ecology: Examining the environmental destruction of the LA fires”, Feb 2025 https://www.ohio.edu/news/2025/02/wildfire-ecology-examining-environmental-destruction-la-fires (2-C)
C2ES Centre for climate and energy solutions, “Wildfires and Climate Change”, 2021 https://www.c2es.org/content/wildfires-and-climate-change/ (2-B)
Image source: Ethan Swope, A firefighter moves against the Palisades Fire on Jan. 7, Time.