Climate Change and Human Activity: Global Challenge in Public Policy and the Cause-and-Effect Relationship in Natural Disasters Around the World Between 2020 and 2024

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the cause-and-effect relationship between human activities and the intensification of natural disasters worldwide between 2020 and 2024, as well as the global challenge in public policy in this context. Theoretical Framework: Scientific consensus confirms that human actions, such as the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes, have significantly accelerated global warming, resulting in extreme weather events such as forest fires, floods, hurricanes, and prolonged droughts. Among the main results, we highlight the catastrophic fires in the Australian summer of 2019–2020 (“Black Summer”), the devastating floods in Europe (2021) and Pakistan (2022), among others. Method: A survey of some natural disasters between 2020 and 2024 was conducted, and how these were intensified by the consequences of anthropogenic actions was discussed. Results and Discussion: The research highlights the disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations, reinforcing the urgent need for integrated mitigation and adaptation strategies. The study advocates global cooperation, innovative policies, and sustainable practices to address the climate crisis. Implications of the Research: It is necessary to generate work to repair what the hegemonic model of the last century has degraded. This paradigm shift is incipient, and the country that applies to it before the others will have an advantage, since it will necessarily be developed and implemented through scientific and technological knowledge. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by establishing an intrinsic relationship between human activities and global climate change through empirical studies by authors/researchers.