and the Caribbean last year, resulting in dying glaciers, record-breaking hurricanes, debilitating drought and deadly floods.

The WMO has released a new report titled, The State of the Climate for Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighting positive developments amid the bleak news, such as the growing role of renewable energy in the region and the power of early warning systems to save lives.

“In 2024, weather and climate impacts cascaded from the Andes to the Amazon, from crowded cities to coastal communities, causing major economic and environmental disruptions,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.

“Drought and extreme heat fuelled devastating wildfires. Exceptional rainfall triggered unprecedented flooding, and we saw the earliest category-5 hurricane on record,” she added. (Jamaica Gleaner/CMC)