It's been a long and painful summer for much of the world. Blistering heatwaves in Europe, Asia and the Americas have left thousands dead, buckled roads and runways and fueled wildfires and floods across the globe.

Scientists overwhelmingly attribute the widespread heatwave to climate change. They warn that rising global emissions from fossil fuels will continue to warm the planet and spur even more extreme weather events.

But many countries and populations continue to be surprised and unprepared for what they face. It's been worse for poorer nations that have borne the brunt of climate change for years.

In the coming years, leaders face tough choices. Limiting emissions will be costly politically, but climate change experts say doing nothing will cause even more suffering. Speaking this month, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned that "half of humanity" is now in the "danger zone" when it comes to droughts, extreme storms, floods and wildfires.

In this episode of The Stream we ask, Will extreme weather spur world leaders to act on climate change?

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