The Copernicus Climate Change Service has issued a warning that the Earth’s temperature in 2024 has risen more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average, making it the warmest year on record. This milestone comes just days before crucial climate talks led by the United Nations. The European agency is urging nations to accelerate action to reduce planet-heating emissions at the upcoming conference in Azerbaijan.
October 2024 was the second hottest on record, with global temperatures only slightly lower than the same period in 2023. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted the devastating impact of extreme weather events such as floods, fires, and hurricanes, emphasizing the urgent need for action. The Copernicus Climate Change Service predicts that 2024 will exceed temperature levels by more than 1.55 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, a clear indication of the ongoing climate crisis.
While the current rise in global temperatures does not breach the targets set out in the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius, scientists warn that the 1.5 degree limit is rapidly becoming unattainable. The concentration of planet-heating gases in the atmosphere continues to rise, pushing the world closer to catastrophic climate change scenarios. The UN has stated that current climate pledges are insufficient, with the existing trajectory pointing towards a 3.1 degree Celsius temperature increase by the end of the century.
The upcoming UN climate negotiations in Azerbaijan are crucial for establishing new carbon-cutting targets and addressing the growing climate emergency. With the election of Donald Trump as US President, climate action faces renewed challenges, as Trump has previously withdrawn the US from the Paris Agreement. Although President Joe Biden has since rejoined the agreement, the threat of further withdrawal looms, creating uncertainty about the US’s commitment to climate goals.
The UN report warns that inadequate funding for adaptation measures in poorer countries exacerbates the climate crisis, with resources far below what is needed for disaster preparedness. The urgency of the situation is underscored by the escalating global temperatures and the increasingly destructive impacts of climate change. Every incremental increase in temperature brings about more severe consequences, highlighting the need for immediate and ambitious action to mitigate the effects of global warming.
