Hell on Earth: climate change is wiping out towns — but it's not too late to make a difference

Catastrophic - that's the best way to describe extreme weather conditions that have gripped parts of the northern hemisphere.

Floods of biblical proportions have engulfed Germany, leaving 60 people dead and over 1 000 unaccounted for. Over 100 mm of rain fell in 24 hours, overwhelming sewers, causing rivers to burst their banks and sending people scrambling onto roofs of houses as the waters rose and rose.

Across in Canada and the Western United States, residents are bracing themselves as weather experts forecast another searing heatwave is on its way.