2024 Confirmed as China’s Hottest Year, Elevating Concerns on Climate Change

The year 2024 has been confirmed as the hottest on record for China, with average temperatures rising significantly. Extreme weather linked to climate change has led to devastating impacts, including floods and fatalities. Global temperatures indicate a potential worldwide record heat as various regions face the repercussions of drastic climate events, leading to billions in economic losses.

On record, 2024 has emerged as the hottest year in China, according to the China Meteorological Administration. The national average temperature reached 10.92 degrees Celsius (51.66 Fahrenheit), exceeding the norm by 1.03 degrees, marking the warmest conditions recorded since 1961. The agency noted that the four warmest years in history have all occurred within the last four years, emphasizing a disturbing trend: all ten of the warmest years since the commencement of detailed record-keeping in 1961 have taken place in the 21st century.

Moreover, this year has witnessed unprecedented heat, with record temperatures logged in July, August, and autumn. The United Nations has also reported that 2024 stands as the warmest year globally, attributing the escalation of extreme weather events to climate change. It is essential to understand that global warming, primarily fueled by fossil fuel consumption, triggers various climatic disruptions, leading to severe weather issues such as intense precipitation and storms.

The consequences have been disastrous; in China alone, severe flooding resulted in numerous fatalities and forced thousands to evacuate their homes. In May, torrential rainfall caused a highway collapse in southern China, leading to 48 confirmed deaths. Additionally, city dwellers in Guangzhou endured an extraordinary summer, with the average temperature remaining above 22 degrees Celsius (71.6 Fahrenheit) for 240 days, surpassing the previous record set in 1994.

Across regions like Sichuan, Chongqing, and the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, residents faced extreme heat and drought conditions in early autumn. Globally, significant climate events included destructive flooding in Spain and Kenya, violent storms across the United States and the Philippines, and severe droughts and wildfires in South America. These natural disasters incurred approximately $310 billion in economic losses, as reported by Swiss Re, an insurance company based in Zurich.

According to the 2015 Paris climate accords, the goal is to restrict global warming to significantly below two degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels. In November, the World Meteorological Organization noted that the global mean surface air temperature for the January-September period was 1.54 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average observed between 1850 and 1900.

The increase in global temperatures is closely linked to heightened greenhouse gas emissions, particularly from major industrial nations like China, which has the highest output. The international community recognizes the growing urgency to address climate change, as reflected in commitments like the 2015 Paris Climate Accords aimed at limiting global warming. As climate change continues to fuel severe weather events, the costs to human life and economies escalate, making it imperative to hold nations accountable for emissions to mitigate adverse effects.

In conclusion, 2024 has set a record as China’s hottest year, underscoring the urgent reality of climate change. The correlation between rising temperatures and extreme weather events is undeniable, resulting in significant economic and human losses. This situation not only affects China but also manifests in global disasters, leading to critical discussions about climate accountability and the need for immediate action to address and reverse trends that jeopardize environmental and public health.

Original Source: www.rfi.fr