In 2024, global temperatures reached a record high of 1.6 C above pre-industrial levels, marking the first year to exceed the 1.5 C threshold set by the Paris Agreement. The rise in temperatures correlates with severe climate events worldwide, including wildfires, floods, and heatwaves. Political will to address climate change remains weak despite the escalating crises.
In 2024, global temperatures have officially exceeded the critical 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold above pre-industrial levels, marking the hottest year on record, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). This year’s average temperature was determined to be 1.6 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial period of 1850-1900, surpassing last year’s records by over 0.1 degrees Celsius. Each of the last ten years has been the hottest on record, demonstrating a continuous trend of warming attributed to climate change.
While the Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, with aspirations to keep it under 1.5 degrees, the breach of this threshold presents a significant challenge. The rising temperatures indicate an alarming progression towards severe climate impacts, confirming predictions that emissions from fossil fuels contribute voraciously to atmospheric heating. The widespread effects of climate change are being felt globally, manifesting as extreme weather events including devastating wildfires, floods, and severe heatwaves across various nations.
The catastrophic impacts of climate change are being vividly illustrated through raging wildfires in California and deadly heatwaves in regions such as Mexico and Saudi Arabia. Concurrently, severe flooding has affected countries including Nepal, Sudan, and Spain. Despite the growing urgency evidenced by these disasters, political resolve to address and mitigate emissions appears to be diminishing. Less support for climate strategies coupled with a rise in extreme weather showcases the fragility of political commitments made under international agreements.
As the situation develops, forthcoming reports from U.S. scientists are expected to outline the specific climatic data for 2024, further illuminating the escalating crisis. This bleak scenario underlines the imperative need for concerted global efforts to rein in climate change and its potentially devastating ramifications.
The data presented by the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) highlights an alarming trend in rising global temperatures, signaling the urgency for effective climate action. The breach of the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold is particularly concerning, as it is a significant marker established in the 2015 Paris Agreement, aimed at avoiding severe climate-related disasters. Recent years have seen increasingly warm temperatures, with each year seemingly outdoing the previous, underscoring the pressing need for international cooperation to combat climate change.
In conclusion, 2024 has set a worrying precedent as the hottest year on record, with global temperatures surpassing the critical 1.5 degrees Celsius limit. The dramatic increases in temperature not only highlight the relentless pace of climate change but also the urgent need for enhanced political commitment and effective action to address primary contributors such as fossil fuel emissions. This milestone raises alarm about the vulnerability of global ecosystems and the increasing frequency of climate-related disasters, necessitating immediate and coordinated efforts to mitigate further impacts.
Original Source: www.rfi.fr
