According to climate researcher Mojib Latif, many of the extreme weather events Germany is currently experiencing would not have been possible without human-caused climate change. Latif told the “Rheinische Post” that by comparing simulations from earlier periods with today’s conditions, it is evident that such records would have rarely occurred in the past. He emphasized that temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius are a relatively new phenomenon in Germany, stating clearly, “The connection here is clear: such extreme values are a result of climate change,” and adding that in their current form, they “would not be possible without climate change.”
Latif described this year’s summer as “truly exceptional” because numerous all-time records were broken. However, he noted that this summer is part of a trend that has been emerging for years. He stressed that forest fires, low water levels, and extreme heat are not new problems, urging that the discussion needs to move beyond the cost of climate protection. According to Latif, the damages resulting from inaction will ultimately be far more expensive.
When questioned about the high risk of forest fires and current outbreaks, Latif said that the forests are currently “massively under stress” due to dryness. The expert warned that they are witnessing something akin to “Forest Death 2.0.” He pointed out that unlike the 1970s and 1980s, when acid rain was a major issue, persistent drought is now the central factor. Therefore, Latif concluded that it is necessary to “rebuild forests to be more resilient in the long term.”
