A new scientific assessment finds that human-induced climate change significantly intensified the extreme rainfall that triggered devastating floods in Ghana and other coastal West Africa in June. Historical records indicate rainfall intensity increased by up to 23%, while climate models estimate at least a 4% increase, making the event both more severe and more likely. 

The floods claimed nearly 100 lives in Ghana, Togo, and Côte d'Ivoire, highlighting how climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, with similar rainfall episodes now expected to occur every 2–4 years.

In a press release issued by World Weather Attribution, scientists note that "the intense 3-day rainfall event is now about 5 times more likely to occur today compared to a pre-industrial climate."

According to the Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change, Simon Stiell, “There’s nothing normal about these devastating floods; the climate crisis has made them more likely, driven by humanity burning vast amounts of oil, coal and gas. What was once rare is becoming increasingly frequent, severe and deadly due to global heating."  He further states: “But the solutions are equally clear: moving faster from fossil fuels to clean energy, investing in climate resilience and protecting forests, adding that "many nations need support to speed up this shift, especially vulnerable nations which have done so
little to cause the global climate crisis. So all climate finance commitments must be delivered in full."