Which environmental disaster heightened awareness in 2025?

The environmental disaster that heightened awareness in 2025 is the one related to forest fires in the Amazon. These fires have significant implications for global climate and biodiversity, as the Amazon rainforest is often referred to as the "lungs of the Earth" due to its capacity to produce oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide. The widespread coverage of the devastation caused by these fires in 2025 acted as a catalyst for global discussions about climate change, deforestation, and the urgent need for conservation efforts. This event likely sparked heightened public awareness and concern over environmental issues, leading to more vigorous advocacy and potential policy changes aimed at protecting vital ecosystems.

The other options do relate to important environmental issues, but they do not have the same level of immediate and widespread impact that the forest fires in the Amazon had in 2025. Melting polar ice caps is a long-term consequence of climate change that has been recognized for years, severe flooding in major cities highlights ongoing infrastructure challenges rather than an isolated disaster, and increased hurricanes in the Caribbean, while critical, reflect a pattern rather than a single moment of heightened awareness.