To see your city's future climate, you might have to travel.

Science · Published 17 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Climate change is no longer a distant forecast; it is actively reshaping global weather patterns and human migration. By using current data on greenhouse gas emissions, researchers can now predict how your hometown will feel in 60 years by identifying existing locations that mirror those future conditions.

The physical mechanisms of climate change are driven by greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide trapping heat on the Earth's surface. This process leads to rising temperatures in regions like the Arctic and Antarctica, while simultaneously increasing evaporation rates. The result is a dual threat: more intense rainfall leading to flooding, and extreme heat that makes daily life difficult in tropical and temperate zones alike.

The human impact of these shifts is profound. Regarding Asia and the Pacific, residents face extreme risk; during previous year's period, Pakistan plus the Philippines saw peak natural disaster death tolls. These events uproot hundreds of thousands of families, creating a growing need for migration networks like APMEN, launched in September 2012 to help researchers and policymakers manage climate-driven human movement.

Predicting these changes involves complex modeling of high and reduced emissions scenarios. For instance, the Future Urban Climates web application suggests that by 2080, New York City's climate may mirror what northern Mississippi feels like today—swapping snow for humid summers. However, because the magnitude of change is so significant, there are no perfect matches; many cities, especially those near the equator, will face future climates that have no current equivalent on Earth.

Beyond physical changes, the psychological toll is becoming a recognized field of study. 'Eco-anxiety'—a mix of fear, grief, and distress regarding environmental threats—is rising, particularly among young people. In one UK survey, 26% of young respondents reported that eco-anxiety affected their daily functioning, highlighting the need for communication strategies that empower action rather than fostering overwhelming catastrophe.

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