Australia had a run of extreme events during the January–February summer. The country saw long heatwaves, storms, floods and large bushfires that began in late December 2024 and continued into mid-January.
Fires damaged national parks and visitor facilities, and there were worries for threatened animals and rare plants. Coral bleaching also grew worse in 2024. Northern Australia experienced severe wet-season floods, and the monsoon reached Darwin late in early February 2025. A powerful cyclone hit northwestern areas, and many people faced damage, moves and higher home insurance costs.
Difficult words
- heatwave — A period of very hot weatherheatwaves
- bushfire — A large fire in wild open countrybushfires
- bleaching — When coral loses its colour and becomes pale
- cyclone — A very strong tropical storm with winds
- flood — Large amounts of water covering landfloods
- threatened — At risk of disappearing or dying out
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Have you ever experienced a heatwave or strong storm? What happened?
- What would you do if a flood came to your area?
- How would damage and higher home insurance costs affect people in a community?
Related articles
Pressure on Kibira National Park from tea farms and development
Tea plantations and other development near Kibira National Park in northwest Burundi have reduced forest cover and made wildlife, including chimpanzees, rarer. Experts and local people call for community action to protect the park.
Uzbekistan builds large waste-to-energy plants with Chinese partners
Uzbekistan began construction of two waste-to-energy plants with Chinese firms in July 2025 and plans at least seven plants by 2027. The projects aim to burn waste and produce electricity, but critics raise transparency and health concerns.
Courts and the right to a healthy environment in Pakistan
Pakistan’s courts have recognised a constitutional right to a healthy environment through landmark cases and a new amendment. Legal advances face many limits, including weak civil society support, funding problems and gaps in judicial expertise.