Climate change may be making us lonelier: How heat waves and extreme weather disrupt social connections everyone relies on

On extremely hot days and in the aftermath of storms, people tend to hole up inside. Losing festivals, traditions and gathering places can worsen that loneliness.

By: Fiona Doherty, University of Tennessee, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: August 5, 2026

Words: 1,129

Last Updated: 1 week, 6 days ago

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By Fiona Doherty, University of Tennessee

Severe storms, heat waves and wildfires can shut down the social life of a community, flooding out festivals, canceling community events and keeping people indoors.

They’re also evidence of how climate change isn’t just changing the environments we all live in, but also impeding our ability to connect with one another.

Around the world, social connection is increasingly recognized as essential to individual and collective well-being. …

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