Rising Extreme Weather Events: Urgent Climate Action Needed

1. Introduction: When the Earth Cries Out and the Sky Roars

In recent times, storms, hurricanes, droughts, and heatwaves seem to have intensified their furious dance around the world. At first glance, we might think it’s a sign that “nature is out of control.” However, nature has always exhibited its untamed character. The difference today, unlike ever before, is that human activity has disrupted the delicate balance of the global climate, catalyzing extreme weather events with increasing frequency and magnitude.

These events, often described as climate catastrophes, expose the vulnerability of our cities, the fragility of our supply chains, and the precariousness of public health systems in the face of cyclones, floods, and severe droughts. The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Special Report of 2021 indicates that some extreme events, such as heatwaves, have become 50% more likely in various parts of the planet, while the intensity of Atlantic hurricanes has shown an increase associated with higher ocean temperatures.

When we look at these storms and droughts, we can feel the tremor of history: the Earth cries out, and the sky roars, demanding that we rethink how we produce and consume energy. At the same time, paths of hope and action emerge. In the underground force of rocks and the wisdom of geology, we discover unexpected allies for the main challenge of renewables: energy storage. Thus, the fury of nature and the urgency of change intertwine in a global narrative where technological innovation, environmental awareness, and culture join hands to seek a more sustainable future.

2. The Fury of Nature: A Dialogue Between Heat and Storms

Discussing extreme weather events is, in part, discussing energy. Heat from the Sun warms the Earth's surface, drives ocean evaporation, and creates air currents that shape rain and wind systems. When there is an excess of heat trapped in the atmosphere—largely due to the accumulation of greenhouse gases like CO₂, methane, and nitrous oxide—this excess energy translates into more intense and variable weather patterns.

2.1. The Scourge of Heatwaves

Heatwaves have become more frequent and prolonged in regions like Southern Europe, South Asia, and parts of the Americas. In 2023, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported record temperatures in Mediterranean countries, reaching 47°C in parts of Italy and Spain. These extreme conditions pose a significant threat, especially to the most vulnerable groups—such as the elderly, children, and people with chronic illnesses—and present enormous challenges for agriculture and water management.

2.2. From Droughts to Torrential Storms

The water cycle is altered when temperatures rise, intensifying the evaporation of oceans, rivers, and lakes, loading the atmosphere with moisture. This can exacerbate droughts in already arid regions but, in contrast, trigger torrential storms in other parts of the world. For example, Latin America experienced unusual rains and floods in Brazil, Bolivia, Mexico, and Colombia in 2022 and 2023, resulting in significant human and economic losses. According to ECLAC (Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean), flood and landslide-related damages in the region exceeded $10 billion over the past five years.

2.3. Tropical Cyclones: More Powerful Hurricanes

Hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones, fueled by increasingly warm ocean waters, can gain greater intensity and generate destructive winds, torrential rains, and storm surges. Hurricane Ida in 2021, which severely impacted the southern coast of the United States, is an example of high-category hurricanes with devastating effects on infrastructure and human lives. In the medium term, an increase in the proportion of intense storms is expected, as indicated by climate models compiled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

3. The Urgency for Change: From Meteorology to Politics and Society

The evidence that the global climate is destabilizing is increasingly compelling. Given the magnitude of these phenomena, the urgency for change is felt not only in government offices but also within the social fabric of every country. Thousands of people are displaced due to floods or crop failures; coastal communities see their stability threatened by rising sea levels; and health systems are overwhelmed by diseases associated with extreme temperatures.

Public pressure to decarbonize the economy grows daily, reflected in marches, petitions, and legislative projects demanding a transition to renewable energy—solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal—and the adoption of cleaner technologies. From the evocative perspective, we could say this is the “underground cry” of society, calling for a future that does not suffocate the dreams of new generations under a blanket of extreme heat and massive storms. Similarly, would reflect on the paradox of humanity, which, with its advancements, seems to sink into its own climatic trap.

4. The Great Dilemma of Renewables: How to Store Energy?

Advancing toward renewable energy is a crucial step, but a critical link remains full of doubts and challenges: energy storage. Sources like wind and solar are intermittent; the wind does not blow all the time, nor does the sun shine all night. To sustain constant electricity demand, solutions capable of storing energy during surplus times and releasing it during shortages are required.

4.1. Battery Technologies

Lithium-ion batteries have dominated the portable electronics and electric vehicle markets. However, their large-scale use in electrical grids still faces limitations in cost, raw material availability, recycling, and safety. Researchers at various universities—such as MIT and Stanford—are exploring solid-state and sodium-air batteries, among others, to improve energy density and storage safety. Nevertheless, forecasts from the International Energy Agency (IEA) indicate that by 2040, the demand for critical minerals for batteries (lithium, cobalt, and nickel) could increase four to six times, representing an additional challenge in terms of sustainability and costs.

4.2. Green Hydrogen and E-fuels

Green hydrogen, obtained through water electrolysis using clean energy, is emerging as a powerful energy carrier in industry and heavy transport. However, the key question is: how can large volumes of hydrogen be stored and transported? Saline caverns or specific geological formations have been suggested, but further detailed research is needed. Synthetic fuels (e-fuels) also promise a way to store renewable energy in "clean" hydrocarbon molecules, but industry must improve efficiency and reduce costs.

5. Geology as an Ally: A Response to Nature’s Fury

Though it may sound paradoxical, the same subsurface that sometimes causes earthquakes or volcanic eruptions can become an essential ally in facing the climate crisis and extreme weather events. Here’s how:

• Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS): Deep geological formations (depleted oil and gas fields, saline formations, or basaltic rocks) can inject CO₂ to be mineralized or confined for long periods. By reducing atmospheric CO₂ concentration, the effects of climate change that trigger extreme phenomena are mitigated.

• Underground Energy Storage:

  • Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES): In saline caverns or old mines, air is injected at high pressure during renewable energy surplus periods to later release it and generate electricity during peak demand hours.

  • Geothermal Storage: Excess heat is pumped into the subsurface (deep aquifers or porous rocks) and recovered later for heating or even electricity generation.

  • Hydrogen Storage: Hydrogen injection into suitable geological formations could complement the renewable transition, though this involves technical and safety challenges.

  • CO₂ Mineralization in Basalt Rocks: A process showing promising results in places like Iceland and the United States, where CO₂ is injected dissolved in water into basalt formations and converted into solid carbonates within months or a few years.

In spiritual terms, we could say that the same generative force of the Earth—which, in its relentless nature, has given rise to volcanoes and mountains—also offers a refuge for the carbon that plagues our atmosphere. By understanding geological processes, we have the opportunity to find natural and lasting solutions that complement the pursuit of cleaner energy.

6. Recent Data and Perspectives: Notes of Hope

For these initiatives to come to life and have a significant impact, it is vital to rely on scientific evidence and the support of well-designed public policies. Below are some data and trends that illustrate why the fury of nature and the urgency for change are not mere slogans but tangible realities projecting into the future:

• Increase in Extreme Events: In a 2022 report on climate risks in Asia and Africa, the World Bank projects that coastal flooding events will increase by 50% by 2050, affecting nearly 800 million people. Simultaneously, climate models indicate that Mediterranean and Latin American regions could experience longer and more extreme droughts.

• Carbon Capture Technologies: The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) suggests that by 2050, global carbon capture (CCUS) capacity should reach at least 5 billion tons per year to keep warming below 2°C. Although the figure seems enormous, several pilot projects—such as CarbFix in Iceland—have demonstrated the feasibility of large-scale geological mineralization.

• Underground Energy Storage: According to a report by the European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE), saline cavern storage of compressed air and hydrogen could grow at an annual rate of over 15% during the next decade, driven by the EU's decarbonization goals. This translates into dozens of projects transitioning from concept to construction.

• Costs and Efficiency: Although some geological storage methods remain costly, it is expected that economies of scale and innovation will reduce costs by 30-40% over the next 10-15 years (IEA projections). The convergence of stricter climate policies and growing public pressure could accelerate this learning curve.

7. Cultural Wealth and Resilience: The Other Side of the Coin

In many regions where nature's fury strikes hardest—think of the Caribbean ravaged by hurricanes or the Andean highlands exposed to droughts—ancestral cultures have survived and innovated for centuries. Cultural syncretism with the environment enabled the construction of agricultural terraces, water reservoirs, and community alert traditions for storms and landslides.

In Mario Mendoza’s writing, one can sense Latin America’s reality: a blend of magical realism and harsh reality, where mountains, rivers, and volcanoes are part of both a spiritual and material geography. When local communities participate in climate resilience projects—such as wetland rehabilitation, reforestation, or the adoption of early warning systems—a fusion of knowledge enhances technological solutions. This weaves a bond between scientific innovation and traditional wisdom, akin to what Saramago evoked in his stories by contemplating human essence and the land that sustains it.

8. Policies and Actions: An Unpostponable Call

Faced with scientific evidence and social urgency, governments and companies cannot remain idle. Some action lines gaining traction include:

• Regulatory Frameworks for CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage): Various countries, such as Norway, Canada, and the UK, are establishing incentives and clear regulations to promote CO₂ injection into geological formations and transformation into reusable products (e.g., construction carbonates).

• Subsidies and Research Investments: Universities and innovation centers receive funding to improve battery efficiency, hydrogen storage, and mineralization techniques. The goal is to accelerate the arrival of the next generation of solutions to the market with a smaller environmental footprint.

• Protection of Key Ecosystems: Mangroves, wetlands, and coral reefs act as natural barriers against storms and floods. However, their degradation continues. Restoration policies become indispensable, not as a luxury but as a shield against nature's fury.

• International Cooperation and Multilateral Agreements: Beyond the Paris Agreement, there is a need for joint strategies to comprehensively manage climate risks and adopt clean technologies. Climate change respects no borders, and international coordination is crucial.

9. A Geological Perspective to Tackle Energy and Climate Challenges

How do we weave the issue of extreme weather events with the urgency for change and geology as an energy storage solution? The answer lies in a deep understanding of planetary cycles. Climate and geology are two sides of the same coin: the Earth's internal dynamics influence the surface, while the atmosphere and oceans regulate temperature and weather. At this crossroads, science and technology can orchestrate a productive dialogue with these natural systems.

• CO₂ Injection Projects in Basalt or Saline Cavities are closely tied to mitigating the climate crisis by sequestering the carbon that fuels storms' fury.

• Compressed air or hydrogen storage in geological formations contributes to the stability of the electrical grid, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and consequently lowering emissions that drive extreme weather.

• The subsurface emerges as fertile ground for innovation: What was once solely the exploitation of minerals and oil can now transform into spaces for climate security and energy flexibility.

10. Final Reflections: Light Emerges from the Storm

Nature’s fury is but a reflection of the imbalances we have fostered on the planet. Yet, it also serves as a profound call to redefine our role within the web of life through technology, policy, and culture. Perhaps, at the crossroads of a warming and increasingly volatile world, the true question is whether we will have the humility and wisdom to listen to the Earth’s subterranean pulse and harness it to our advantage—without breaking the silent pact we must maintain with biodiversity and future generations.

As Saramago alluded to in his reflections, the essence of humanity reveals itself when man stops to consider how he inhabits the Earth. When we speak of extreme storms and droughts, we are not merely talking about meteorology but about the interdependence between society and nature, between science and imagination. From the turbulent atmosphere to the depths of the rocks, a dialogue awaits—one that demands responsibility and a shift in paradigm.

Mario Mendoza’s perspective, deeply rooted in Latin America's cultural tensions, reminds us that in the cracks of the system—in urban and rural peripheries where the climate hits hardest—stories of resilience, solidarity, and creativity arise. There, the most intense transformations are forged by people who, despite the storm, remain grounded in their land and culture.

Perhaps, at this point of convergence between the sky’s fury and geological wisdom, we will find the key to forging a different future—a future where renewable energy rests upon rock, where excess carbon transforms into mineral, and where communities grow stronger instead of succumbing to the storm.

11. Sources and References

• IPCC (2021) – Sixth Assessment Report, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

• WMO (2023) – Reports on extreme climate events and global temperature trends.

• NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) – Data and projections on tropical cyclones in the Atlantic basin.

• World Bank (2022) – Study on climate risks and economic losses in Asia and Latin America.

• ECLAC – Reports on the impact of hydrometeorological events in Latin America.

• International Energy Agency (IEA) – Analysis of critical mineral demand for batteries and energy storage scenarios.

• International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) – Decarbonization and carbon capture scenarios.

• EASE (European Association for Storage of Energy) – Reports on underground compressed air and hydrogen storage.

• CarbFix (Iceland) – Pioneering CO₂ injection project into basalt formations.

12. Epilogue: The Final Call

As storms rumble across the skies and heat scorches the fields, the need for change becomes undeniable. The future demands courage and creativity—from geology labs experimenting with CO₂ mineralization to communities demanding climate justice. In this narrative arc, nature’s fury is not merely punishment—it is a powerful reminder that the Earth is alive, that the atmosphere can be our ally, and that geological depths can become our fortress.

Let this text serve as a manifesto for action and a song of hope, even amid the fiercest storms. For in the darkness of the night, the conviction for a fair and inevitable change rises like lightning that illuminates the horizon.