2024 Predicted to be Hottest Year on Record as Temperatures Surpass 1.5C Threshold
The year 2024 is on track to become the hottest on record, as per the UN’s World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), marking a significant breach of the 1.5C threshold. This announcement has come as a red alert over the growing concerns of climate change affecting our planet. The data released by WMO based on analysis from six global datasets reveals that the global average temperature from January to September 2024 was 1.54C above pre-industrial levels. This steep rise can be attributed to a warming El Nino weather phenomenon in the Pacific region. Surpassing the record heat of 2023, this year’s temperatures are placing the world in uncharted territories in terms of climate change.
While this breach of the 1.5C threshold signifies a failure to meet the global commitment of limiting global warming to avert severe consequences, the WMO clarifies that it does not necessarily indicate a long-term failure. The organisation’s state of the climate report, unveiled at the UN Cop29 climate talks in Baku, Azerbaijan, raises an alarm about the accelerated pace of climate change experienced within a single generation. This alarming trend is predominantly driven by the escalating levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The nations attending the conference are under immense pressure to provide financial aid to support developing countries in combating climate change and to intensify their efforts to align with the goals set out in the Paris climate agreement, aiming to restrain global warming to either 1.5C or 2C.
The WMO underscores that even though the long-term warming measured over decades is still below the 1.5C threshold, the recent ten years have consistently ranked as the warmest on record. Additionally, the report highlights that ocean heat has reached unprecedented levels in 2023, sea levels are rising at an accelerated pace, and Antarctic sea-ice extent has hit its second-lowest record. The repercussions of these climate changes are evident through extreme weather and climate events such as floods, storms, and intense heatwaves impacting millions worldwide. With adverse effects like loss of life, damage to property, aggravated food insecurity, and increased displacement and migration, the need for urgent climate action is more pronounced than ever.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres draws attention to the manifold impacts of climate change, stating that it adversely affects health, exacerbates inequalities, hampers sustainable development, and destabilises peace globally. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo stresses the importance of comprehending that the occasional spike in monthly and annual temperatures above 1.5C does not imply a definitive failure to adhere to the Paris Agreement’s objective. She emphasises the urgency for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing monitoring mechanisms to comprehend the evolving climate patterns better. The report also reveals other concerning trends, including successive months from June 2023 to September 2024 witnessing record-breaking global temperatures, a continual rise in greenhouse gas concentrations, soaring ocean heat levels, and irreversible ocean warming over the years.
Moreover, the report indicates an acceleration in sea-level rise and glacier loss, signifying the urgent need for collective action to address these environmental challenges. As the world grapples with the mounting impacts of climate change, it becomes imperative for governments, organisations, and individuals to collaborate in reducing emissions, fostering sustainable practices, and fortifying resilience against climate-related adversities. The WMO’s latest revelations serve as a clarion call for immediate measures to mitigate climate change’s adverse effects and protect our planet for future generations.