Global Weirding and Climate Whiplash

 Global weirding, also called climate weirding, is a term coined by Rocky Mountain Institute co-founder Hunter Lovins. It refers to how warming temperatures can cause all kinds of "weird" phenomena that can at times be contradictory - from hotter heat spells and droughts in some places, to colder cold spells and more violent storms, more intense flooding, forest fires and species loss in other places.

Further, as a part of global weirding, many places are experiencing climate whiplash, or extreme opposite weather conditions in the same region. Cities across the globe have experienced droughts that dry up water sources followed closely by floods that overwhelm infrastructure, destroying sanitation systems and contaminating drinking water. Places accustomed to heavy rainfall are now facing droughts, while historically arid regions now grapple with unexpected floods.

Global warming, which addresses changes in average global temperature, does not begin to convey the range of severe weather-related events and changes in weather patterns that can occur because of climate change. Depending on the trajectory of greenhouse gas emissions, average global temperatures could rise between 2°F and 11°F by the end of the century. But in one city temperatures can fluctuate more than that in a single day. That is global weirding.

About seven percent of the intensification of heavy rainfall globally is a consequence of climate change. While geographical variability of heat waves is uncertain, the rising trends in the projected intensity, frequency and duration of heat waves are unmistakable.

On the other hand, cold snaps may persist well into the end of this century. Thus, while the overall climate trend is one of warming, and heat waves are projected to intensify, extreme cold events on the average may continue to be as severe and long-lasting as they are currently.

The other aspect of the global weirding phenomenon is its impact on infrastructure, resources, species diversity and the economy. The impact of a warmer world and exacerbated extremes can be severe on both water and food security, especially in the more vulnerable parts of the world. According to the US Global Change Research Program, the consequences of climate change for the US will include stressed water resources, challenges to crop and livestock production, storm surges in coastal areas, and threats to human health.

(Sources: Northeastern University and The Week magazine)

2025 Water Aid Report on Water and Climate

In March 2025, the UK charity Water Aid released the report “Water and Climate: Rising Risks for Urban Populations”. The key findings of the report were:

• 15% of the cities examined in this report show an intensification trend, which we have termed ‘climate whiplash’, where both extreme dry and wet episodes are substantially increasing. These whiplashing extremes in quick succession can be particularly hard for communities to prepare for and recover from. These cities are found across the world, from Asia to the Middle East and Africa and the USA.
• South and Southeast Asia is a regional hotspot with a strong wetting trend. This region is experiencing an increase in wet and extreme wet climate, which increases the likelihood of extreme flooding. Many of the world’s largest cities are located in this area.
• Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa are experiencing a drying trend and are likely to face more frequent and long-lasting droughts.
• Over 20% of the cities are experiencing a reversal in their climate extremes. Approximately 13% are flipping toward a more extreme wet climate, while about 7% are flipping toward a more extreme dry climate.
• The convergence of underlying social and infrastructure vulnerabilities with these climatic patterns results in hotspots of risk in two key regions:
• South and Southeast Asia, which is experiencing increases in wet extremes.
• North and East Africa, which is experiencing increases in both wet and dry extremes.

 Water Aid has called for:

• Greater investment to tackle the water crisis: Development partners, multilateral banks and the private sector should work together to unlock investment in climate-resilient water, sanitation and hygiene systems that benefits the most vulnerable.
• Global leadership to accelerate action on water: Governments and development partners must work through the existing multilateral platforms to deliver ambitious action on climate and water, including through the UNFCCC, the G7 Water Coalition and the G20 Call to Action on Strengthening Drinking-water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Services.
• National government leadership to urgently deliver water plans: Governments in affected countries to mainstream and implement water,sanitation and hygiene measures into their national and city-level climateadaptation plans with a focus on vulnerable groups, especially women and girls.
• Prioritise the most vulnerable communities: All decision-makers to recognise overlapping vulnerabilities and prioritise the leadership and needs of women, girls and marginalised groups in climate-resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene plans.