Humans are to be blamed for about 14 extreme weather events that occurred across the globe in 2014 as it has been found that human-induced climate change contributed to the formation of the weather events, according to a global study. In the past year, half of the 28 storms, droughts and other extreme events were attributed to human activities that caused climate changes.

An international team of researchers from agencies and institutions in more than 20 countries has reported on Nov 5 the findings that show the impact of human-induced climate change to all seven continents.

Recent records show that Europe, the Korean peninsula, northern China and Australia all experienced heat with climate-change signals in 2014. People in Syria and East Africa also suffered from extreme droughts.

Besides droughts, climate change also triggered flooding in southeastern Canada, while Hawaii experienced extreme hurricane season. In addition, rains in New Zealand and France, and extreme Himalayan snowstorm in Nepal were also linked to climate change.

Human activities also caused an increased Antarctic sea ice and warmer sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific and Atlantic. The study was published at the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.

However, the findings have triggered a debate due to its accuracy and details, according to the National Geographic. But the researchers said that they are confident with the findings because of improved modelling tools and techniques that helped them to analyse the link between climate change and weather events.

They noted that they could also perform better analysis, especially about heat waves, because of the available weather instruments. However, the team claims that they were unable to fully analyse the link of extreme rainfall to altered climate.

With the techniques, the findings could help people across the world prepare for the impact of climate change, according to lead editor Stephanie Herring from the National Centres for Environmental Information of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA.

“As the field of climate attribution science grows, resource managers, the insurance industry, and many others can use the information more effectively for improved decision-making and to help communities better prepare for future extreme events,” she said.

In Australia, human-induced climate change has been linked to extreme and severe heat waves in 2014, the study shows. There had also been frost, low-elevation snowfall and less rain in southern regions of the country.

In response to the current and future impact of climate change, the minister for Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop, has announced that Australia has been elected to lead the Green Climate Fund in 2016. The Green Climate Fund is considered as the leading fund in the world to address climate change in developing countries, including those in the Pacific region.

The government said that it will push for an increased focus to fight climate change in the country, particularly for Pacific Island countries and other small island developing states.

The government plans to use the fund to deliver projects such as to develop a climate-proof approach to urban water supply and wastewater management in Fiji; to support communities in the Maldives to work against water shortages due to climate change and to provide a climate-resilient local infrastructure in Bangladesh.

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