The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service forecasts that 2024 will likely be the hottest year on record, surpassing 2023. The report underscores the urgency of addressing climate change and calls for stronger international commitments at the COP29 summit. Experts warn of the dire consequences of exceeding 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, highlighting the necessity for rapid action to reduce carbon emissions and combat extreme weather events.
The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) announced that 2024 is highly likely to become the warmest year on record, surpassing 2023. This declaration was made in anticipation of the upcoming U.N. COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan, which is expected to address significant funding needs to combat climate change. C3S’s report emphasized that the average global temperature from January to October was so elevated that only an unprecedented drop in temperatures could prevent 2024 from setting a new record. Carlo Buontempo, the C3S Director, stated that the fundamental cause of this increase in temperatures is climate change, affecting all regions and bodies of water globally.
The warning from C3S highlights the growing concerns surrounding climate change and its ramifications, as the world faces increasingly severe weather events attributed to global warming. The research indicates that 2024 will mark the first instance of global temperatures exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, a milestone of significant concern for climate scientists and policymakers alike. Despite the Paris Agreement goals set in 2015 aimed at limiting climate change impacts, C3S anticipates that the target will be breached around 2030 due to insufficient climate action. This situation underscores the urgency for international cooperation and stronger commitments to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels, which are the primary contributors to global warming.
In conclusion, the projections for 2024 being the hottest year ever recorded signal an alarming trend in global temperature increases driven by climate change. Scientists stress the importance of immediate and robust action against fossil fuel reliance to mitigate further escalations. The upcoming COP29 summit serves as a critical platform for nations to unite in enhancing their climate commitments, with the aim of adhering to the goals of the Paris Agreement to counteract the imminent environmental crisis.
Original Source: www.swissinfo.ch
