The unwinding of our climate

From The Guardian daily newsletter, Monday, Aug 31, 2026 – Hettie O’Brien, FIRST EDITION

Over the weekend, rescue workers in Nepal and Tibet raced to find people who are still trapped in villages affected by catastrophic flash floods. As of this morning, the death toll stands at 903, and more than 4,000 people are missing.

For those of you reading this in a place where life continues as usual, the scale of devastation is hard to fathom. In a matter of minutes, a torrent of mud and debris engulfed entire villages, snapped bridges and swept away people’s homes and families. Some survivors are marooned on top of buildings that rescue workers can’t reach. Others are trapped in tunnels beneath the ground. Many have no idea if their loved ones are still alive.

The floods exemplify a wider threat. The delicate processes that have shaped our climate for centuries are unwinding at a terrifying pace. Scientists are still investigating the precise sequence of events that caused these floods, but as the planet heats up and glaciers melt, events like this will keep happening.

The Guardian has been covering the floods extensively – you can read our visual guide to the disaster. Other coverage is appearing daily here.

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