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The year 2024 has marked an alarming new chapter in the ongoing climate crisis, as global temperatures exceeded the critical 1.5°C threshold above pre-industrial levels for the first time on record. This milestone, confirmed by a report from the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, highlights the escalating intensity of climate change and its dire consequences for ecosystems and human life.
2024: The Hottest Year on Record
According to the report, 2024 experienced the hottest year globally, with all continents—except Australasia and Antarctica—setting new temperature records. Notably, 11 months of the year saw temperatures surpassing the 1.5°C threshold, a key target outlined in the 2015 Paris Agreement to mitigate climate change. However, despite surpassing this figure in 2024, the long-term global average temperature remains around 1.3°C, keeping the Paris Agreement’s goal in focus.
The report attributes this unprecedented rise in temperatures to a combination of human-caused climate change and natural factors, including a strong El Niño, a phenomenon that raises ocean temperatures and amplifies extreme weather events globally. This year’s temperature spike further underscores the urgency of addressing the underlying causes of global warming.
Extreme Weather Events on the Rise
As global temperatures soared, 2024 also saw a dramatic rise in extreme weather events. In April, devastating floods swept through parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan, claiming hundreds of lives. A year-long drought lowered Amazon River levels to an all-time low, while in Athens, Greece, the ancient Acropolis was temporarily closed in the afternoons to protect tourists from dangerous heat. Across southern and eastern Europe, severe heatwaves triggered wildfires that ravaged forests and threatened communities.
In addition, heavy rainfall in certain regions caused catastrophic flooding, including in Valencia, Spain, last October. The report highlights that atmospheric moisture content in 2024 was 5% higher than the average, further exacerbating the frequency and intensity of these extreme events.
The Rising Risk of Catastrophic Impacts
While the 1.5°C milestone is a concerning development, it is important to note that the Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming over the long term, not just in individual years. Yearly fluctuations, such as the presence of El Niño, can temporarily push temperatures above the target. However, every fraction of a degree of warming increases the likelihood of catastrophic impacts, including the irreversible melting of the Greenland ice sheet, rising sea levels, and the disruption of ecosystems.
As scientists point out, it’s not just the global average temperature that matters—it’s the regional effects of climate change, including extreme heatwaves, wildfires, and flooding, that will shape the future of our planet. In 2024, nearly half of the globe experienced high heat stress, particularly in low-income countries, where the health consequences and excess deaths were most pronounced.
What Needs to Be Done?
The report concludes with an urgent call for action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt infrastructure to better cope with climate extremes, and protect vulnerable communities from the worsening effects of climate change. The ongoing rise in global temperatures calls for immediate and sustained efforts to meet international climate targets and minimize future risks.
While it remains to be seen whether 2025 will be as hot as 2024, this new record serves as a stark reminder of the far-reaching influence that human activities have on the climate. It is a wake-up call that the time to act is now.
Disclaimer: The data and analysis in this article are based on reports and scientific findings available at the time of publication. Climate predictions are subject to change based on future developments and ongoing research.
