The Copernicus Climate Change Service has confirmed that 2024 was the hottest year on record.  Global temperatures surpassed the critical threshold of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels for the first time.  The average global temperature reached approximately 15.10 °C, exceeding the previous record set in 2023 by 0.12 °C.  This milestone reflects a worrying trend, as each year from 2015 to 2024 ranks among the ten warmest years on record. The extreme heat, primarily fueled by human-induced greenhouse gas emissions, was intensified by the El Niño phenomenon, which also led to warmer sea surface temperatures.  Notably, July 22, 2024, marked the hottest day ever recorded globally, with average temperatures hitting 17.16°C.   The unprecedented warmth had severe consequences, including devastating wildfires in Los Angeles and significant droughts in various regions around the world.  UN Secretary-General António Guterres said this news is “indicative of a “climate breakdown,” and we “must exit this road to ruin” as we “have no time to lose.” The record-breaking temperatures highlight the urgency of global climate action as vulnerable nations face escalating risks from climate change impacts.  Despite the alarming data, experts emphasized that the long-term target of limiting warming to 1.5°C remains intact, as it refers to multi-decade averages, not single-year records. However, if current trends continue, there is an increasing likelihood that we will surpass this limit. 

Tags

As featured on