In 2024, China set a record for the hottest year, with an average temperature of 10.92°C. This phenomenon reflects a broader global trend linked to climate change, leading to severe weather patterns and devastating natural disasters. The Chinese government has pledged to peak carbon emissions by 2030, amid increasing economic losses related to climate impacts.
In 2024, China experienced its hottest year on record, according to the China Meteorological Administration. The average national temperature reached 10.92 degrees Celsius (51.66 degrees Fahrenheit), surpassing the previous average by 1.03 degrees Celsius. The past four years have now accounted for the four warmest years ever recorded, with all ten of the warmest years occurring in the 21st century. This summer, China recorded its hottest month ever, along with the warmest August and autumn in history.
The crisis is a result of climate change, primarily driven by human-induced greenhouse gas emissions. In light of this, the Chinese government has committed to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and attain net-zero levels by 2060. The United Nations reported that 2024 was poised to be the warmest year globally, highlighting the alarming trends of extreme weather events.
Intensified climate patterns have profound impacts, including increased rainfall and storms due to warmer air holding more moisture. In 2024, climate change effects claimed lives and caused widespread evacuations within China, with substantial economic losses reported. The destructive floods in May along the southern highways claimed 48 lives. Furthermore, Guangzhou recorded a remarkably long summer, where temperatures exceeded an average of 22 degrees Celsius for 240 consecutive days.
Additionally, regions such as Sichuan and Chongqing faced heat and drought challenges early in autumn. On a global scale, 2024 witnessed devastating floods in Spain and Kenya, violent storms across the United States and the Philippines, as well as severe drought and wildfires throughout South America. Overall, these natural disasters incurred approximately $310 billion in economic damages, according to Swiss Re.
The continuous rise in global temperatures poses a significant threat to meet the Paris Agreement goals, which aim to limit the increase to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial averages. Recent assessments from the World Meteorological Organization indicated that the mean surface temperature from January to September was 1.54 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
The information presented discusses climate change and its tangible impacts, particularly focusing on the record-breaking temperatures and extreme weather events that China faced in 2024. The article highlights China’s significant role as a greenhouse gas emitter and the implications of rising temperatures on society and the economy. It underscores the urgency of adhering to international climate agreements aimed at mitigating global warming and protecting livelihoods and property from climate-related disasters.
The report elucidates the escalating consequences of climate change, marked by unprecedented temperature records and extreme weather events experienced in China during 2024. As the world braces for further impacts, it is imperative to recognize the urgent need for global cooperation to curtail greenhouse gas emissions and to adhere to international climate goals, emphasizing the fragility of ecosystems and human staying power against the backdrop of climate-related adversities.
Original Source: www.rfi.fr
