Climate Whiplash: the world's cities in drought and extreme flooding

Over the past two decades, many cities, including Lucknow (India), Madrid (Spain) and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), have undergone abrupt climate changes, going from long periods of drought to periods of intense humidity, or vice versa. The analysis of 112 metropolises revealed that 95 per cent of them show a clear trend towards drier or wetter conditions. The consequences are devastating: floods and drought compromise access to drinking water, sanitation and food security, forcing entire communities to evacuate and fostering the spread of disease. Cities with already poor water infrastructure, such as Karachi in Pakistan and Khartoum in Sudan, are among the hardest hit.

While the drought is affecting Europe, the Arabian Peninsula and much of the United States, cities in South and South-East Asia are experiencing increasingly heavy rainfall. This increasing climate instability is a direct consequence of global warming, caused by fossil fuel pollution. Rising temperatures exacerbate both floods and droughts: warmer air absorbs more water vapour, contributing to more extreme droughts and more violent rainfall. Professor Katerina Michaelides of the University of Bristol describes this phenomenon as a "global strangeness", pointing out how climate change manifests itself in different ways in different geographical areas.

In Europe, the '<climate flip' is particularly evident in Madrid, which has experienced a climatic inversion from a predominantly dry regime to a wetter one over the past two decades. Similar phenomena have also been observed in Riyadh and Cairo. According to the Sixth IPCC Report, southern Europe is one of the most vulnerable areas to water scarcity, already with a warming of 1.5°C. If global temperatures were to rise to 3°C, the risk would become critical, with serious repercussions on the availability of water for agriculture and human consumption.

Countering the climate whiplash requires a global commitment and investment in resilient infrastructure. Some key strategies include:

- Improve water management: enhance rainwater harvesting and reuse systems to combat drought.
- Strengthen urban infrastructure: design efficient drainage systems and adapt water networks to new climate scenarios.
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions: adopt decarbonisation policies and foster energy transition to mitigate the causes of climate change.

The climate whiplash is one of the most dramatic manifestations of the ongoing climate crisis. Unless timely measures are taken, the risk of water scarcity, flooding and environmental disasters will continue to grow. Collective action is essential to make cities more resilient and safe for future generations.

This article has been realised within the project "Biodiversity services EU expansion" (CUP: E43D22000480009) in the framework of the Lombardy Region's call for tenders "PR FESR 2021-2027 - LINEA INTERNAZIONALIZZAZIONE 21-27", aimed at supporting the internationalisation of Italian companies. 3Bee is the naturetech company that develops innovative technologies for monitoring, protecting and regenerating biodiversity, supporting companies in defining customised climate strategies based on the analysis of their impacts and dependencies on nature. With an established portfolio in Italy, Germany and France and prominent partnerships, 3Bee continues its expansion into international markets to create real impact through technology.