2024 Expected to Set Record Temperatures as World Passes 1.5°C Milestone

2024 is set to become the hottest year on record, surpassing 1.5C warming, according to Copernicus. Recent extreme weather events, including severe flooding and hurricanes, underscore this urgent situation. With average global temperatures reaching alarming heights, there is an imperative for world leaders to take concrete actions at the upcoming UN climate negotiations in Azerbaijan.

The year 2024 is poised to mark an unprecedented milestone in global temperature records, as it is projected to become the hottest year in recorded history, surpassing the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The European Union’s climate monitoring agency, Copernicus, has emphasized the urgency for immediate action on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in light of these alarming trends. Recent climatic events, including severe flooding in Spain and Hurricane Milton in the United States, have catalyzed discussions ahead of the upcoming UN climate negotiations in Azerbaijan. November has already set the stage for historic temperature records, with average global temperatures nearing those of 2023, indicating an overall increase. Samantha Burgess, the deputy director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, has stated, “It is now virtually certain that 2024 will be the warmest year on record and the first year of more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.” This declaration serves as a profound wake-up call for global leaders, urging them to elevate their ambitions in combating climate change. The situation is particularly precarious considering recent political developments, including uncertainty surrounding the United States’ commitment to international climate agreements under the leadership of Donald Trump and Joe Biden. The ongoing rise in average global temperatures and greenhouse gas concentrations is widely acknowledged as a harbinger of increasingly extreme weather conditions. October experienced record rainfall across various regions, including Europe, China, the United States, Brazil, and Australia, while simultaneously witnessing severe drought in the US affecting a significant populace. The Copernicus report notes that average sea surface temperatures have reached alarming heights, contributing to an overarching pattern of catastrophic climate impact. Notably, climate scientists assert that the current period may represent the warmest Earth has been in approximately 100,000 years, significantly heightening the urgency of addressing the climate crisis. Through careful analysis of data obtained from billions of measurements by satellites, ships, and weather stations, Copernicus provides crucial insights that inform the global response to this pressing issue. As the world grapples with these unprecedented changes, the crucial necessity for decisive action becomes increasingly clear on the path toward sustainable environmental stewardship.

The context surrounding the rising global temperatures primarily relates to the profound impact of human activities, especially the industrial-scale consumption of fossil fuels, leading to accelerated climate change. The global community has long aimed to limit temperature increases as outlined in the Paris Agreement, which seeks to maintain warming well below 2 degrees Celsius, with a more specific target of 1.5 degrees Celsius. However, recent data indicates that this target may be slipping out of reach, highlighting the need for urgent measures to mitigate further warming and associated extreme weather events.

In conclusion, 2024 is anticipated to be a landmark year in terms of global temperature records, reinforcing the critical need for intensified action against climate change. As Copernicus has further stated, this new temperature milestone underscores the urgent requirement for world leaders to strengthen commitments. The current environmental landscape, marked by extreme weather patterns and record high temperatures, necessitates an immediate collective response to safeguard the planet’s future and adhere to environmental sustainability objectives.

Original Source: www.rfi.fr